Mozart and Trampled Passions

One great character arc illustrated in the movie Amadeus is the trampling of Mozart’s passions. As you watch, compare his spirit as he conducts Die Entführung (impassioned, lively, full of vigor) to Die Zauberflöte (drained, dying). Then, I think of my oldest son. So excited about life. Loves to show off. Wants to teach everyone who comes over about the planets. He spews out his passions oblivious to everyone else. “Settle down.” Voices often bombard him. (Mine included.). Yet, I was the same. How often was I told to calm down? “Breathe. You don’t need to spit out everything you want in one breath.” When you're young, it’s cute. When you become older… ???

So, Mozart went through his life… Obliviously passionate. How many people told him to settle down as he was in the middle of an impassioned tirade? Did such constant redirections wear on him? I know they have worn on me. Of course, I know I need to be more considerate of other when I speak. It’s a weakness. In turn, maybe I’ve shifted to an internal extreme. Writing’s a nice outlet for it. I can go on, without worrying about others telling me to calm down. Mozart had his music.

But, what good does it do if no one shares your passions?

Yet, sharing passions is a two-way street. Maybe, the reason I’m get aggravated with my son, and his loud impassioned interests is because he is interrupting my priorities. How can I teach him to keep that fire and yet be considerate to others? Maybe that’s what Mozart needed as a child. Leopold propped Mozart’s passions, not to prop Mozart, but to prop himself. In turn, Mozart grew up with the mentality that everyone should be as eager about his passions. (It was cute when he was a child). This mindset is most likely what created many of his problems.

I don’t really have good solutions to these pondering...