Mozart in focus: New series about the life and sister of the genius!

Mozart in focus: New series about the life and sister of the genius!

The run-up to Christmas not only brings a festive atmosphere to the streets of Vienna, but also a brilliant celebration surrounding one of the greatest personalities in music history: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. On December 12, 2025, two new series about the life and work of the world-famous composer will start and bring a breath of fresh air to the historical preparations.

The first of the two productions, “Mozart/Mozart” on ARD, sheds light on the often forgotten role of Mozart’s sister Maria Anna. This six-part miniseries delves deeply into her life and challenges and is touted as a feminist reinterpretation of the Mozart myth. The main actors are Eren M. Güvercin in the role of Wolfgang Amadeus and Havana Joy, who breathes life into Maria Anna. An exciting premise accompanies the story: Maria Anna has to take on the role of her brother after his dismissal from the Salzburg court causes hardship for the family. The series was commissioned by German broadcasters ARD and ORF and enchants audiences with a powerful look at the late 18th century, in which the young protagonist disguises herself as her brother to impress the Viennese elite and avoid the envy of Mozart's rival Antonio Salieri.

Tradition meets reinterpretation

At the same time, Sky is launching the five-part series “Amadeus”, which is based on the play of the same name by Peter Shaffer. This production focuses on the competition between the brilliant Wolfgang Amadeus and his rival Salieri and is available from December 21st. The linear broadcast takes place on December 25th and 26th and is led by Will Sharpe as Mozart. This new version is not seen as a new edition of Shaffer's work, but rather tells an independent story that is intended to appeal primarily to a younger audience.

These two series continue a sustained development: The successful formats “Sisi” from RTL and “The Empress” from Netflix, which premiered in 2021 and 2022, have triggered the trend towards stories about historical figures. While “Sisi” spans four seasons and “The Empress” has already released two seasons, the third season is expected for 2026. There is also exciting news: The production of an eight-part crime drama called “Ludwig” about King Ludwig II is planned for 2027 and is already making historically interested viewers keep their eyes open.

Cultural legacy of forgotten geniuses

But it's not just the new series that shed light on the legacy of Mozart and his family. The maestro ultimately died on December 5, 1791 in Vienna and was laid to rest in a simple grave. Mozart was not penniless, as is often assumed, because his widow received support from Emperor Leopold II and earned income from a benefit concert. It turns out that the legend surrounding Mozart is more diverse than previous portrayals have often conveyed.

The new perspective on Maria Anna's life shows that even behind great men there are often strong women. The upcoming series will honor Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's cultural legacy in both its complexity and its context. The combination of a feminist perspective and classical stories could not only bring a breath of fresh air to the television landscape, but also permanently change the image of Mozart and his family.

The world of Wolfgang Amadeus blossoms thanks to these new perspectives - viewers can look forward to a thrilling Advent season full of music, drama and history.