THE MOZART QUESTION

Music is interspersed throughout this standout audio production, allowing the listener to hear young Paulo's first squeaky attempts at playing scales and to feel his parents’ anguish as they are forced to play Mozart concertos for the SS during WWII. Whether it's a full orchestra, a single violin, or simply the rhythmic snipping of scissors, the music itself becomes a character in this moving story. Morpurgo does an outstanding job narrating his own work. He adds a hoarseness to his voice when portraying an aging violin tutor and an innocent excitement to it when depicting his young student. In a minor role, Alison Reid, as the young journalist sent to interview adult Paulo, comes across just as she should—nervous and reverential. M.D. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2012]