Sky Arts Unveils New Mozart Season, Celebrating the Legacy of Classicals Greatest Maestro

Thursday 3 July 2025

David Harewood and Matthew Broome in Mozart: Genius for Hire

Sky Arts presents Mozart Season - a collection of new programmes offering a fresh take on classical music's most iconic name, featuring Lauren Laverne, David Harewood and Danielle de Niese.

From a live concert celebrating Mozart's operatic heroines, to a globe-trotting investigation into the overlooked legacy of his sister Maria-Anna, and a documentary revealing Mozart as one of music's first freelancers, these three Sky Originals explore the world that shaped the great composer, and the people around him history left behind.

Sky Arts' Mozart season will air later this year alongside the previously announced Sky Original limited series Amadeus, starring BAFTA-winning actor Will Sharpe (A Real Pain, The White Lotus S2), Paul Bettany (A Very British Scandal, WandaVision) and Gabrielle Creevy (In My Skin) in a critically acclaimed cast.

Phil Edgar Jones, Executive Director, Unscripted Originals, commented: You'd be forgiven for thinking there's nothing new to say about Mozart, but our season of three new programmes should make you think again. Well explore his relentless pursuit of artistic freedom as a pioneering freelancer, reveal his intimate letters home and uncover the secret genius of his sister, Maria Anna Mozart. All this and a special performance from ENO exploring the parts he wrote for the soprano voice promise to offer the perfect accompaniment to the upcoming Sky Original version of Amadeus."

Titles in the season include:

Mozart's Women: A Musical Journey

Filmed live at the London Coliseum on 12 September 2025, Mozart's Women will be a vibrant celebration of the powerful, witty, intelligent, and emotionally complex heroines at the heart of Mozart's operas. Featuring performances from some of opera's brightest stars, this one-off concert puts their stories centre stage in a night of unforgettable music and performance. The concert will be hosted by TV and radio presenter Lauren Laverne (Desert Island Discs, The One Show) and directed by Annilese Miskimmon, Artistic Director of English National Opera. Taking the podium is Clelia Cafiero, Principal Guest Conductor at the Op ra de Tours, who will lead the award-winning Orchestra of ENO in bringing Mozart's iconic female characters to life.

Mozart: Genius for Hire

This one-off documentary tells the story of the iconic musician breaking free from the constraints of court employment to embrace a risky life as Vienna's pioneering freelancer, defying tradition to compose, teach, and perform on his own terms.

Through expert interviews, historical analysis, and dramatic readings of his letters, we trace the evolution of Mozart's genius and his battle for financial stability in the pursuit of artistic freedom. Contributors including John Suchet OBE, Annilese Miskimmon, and Professor Simon Keefe offer expert insight into Mozarts complex life, while actor Matthew Broome voices Mozarts letters and David Harewood reads those of his father, Leopold.

Mozart's music takes centre stage with a never-before-seen performance of Lacrimosa by Danielle De Niese, a full version of Rondo in C major for Violin and Orchestra performed by Grammy-winning violinist Gil Shaham alongside the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and piano pieces by Cyrill Ibrahim.

Mozart's Sister

Maria Anna Mozart was, like her younger brother, a child prodigy. The children toured Europe performing together as wunderkinder . But that all changed when she turned 18. As a little girl, she could perform and tour, but a woman doing so risked her reputation - Maria Anna never toured again. But she did not give up. She wrote music and sent at least one composition to Wolfgang and Papa. Wolfgang praised it as beautiful and encouraged her. But what happened to her music? Mozart's Sister tests controversial new evidence in a dramatic musical investigation around the world - as we turn our gaze to the unrecognised female creators of our time.

Watch Mozart season on Sky Arts, Freeview and streaming service NOW later this year

For more information, please contact: oyinlola.oyegunle@sky.uk

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