Ketil Bjørnstad
The Road to Mozart

The Road to Mozart
Bjørnstad skillfully moves everything into the picture and, like a transparency, layers ghosts from this time upon the events of his life. Ulrich Steinmetzger, Sächsischen Zeitung

The Road to Mozart is a book about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-91), his childhood and upbringing, and his dramatic journey towards liberation and independence up until his sudden and unexpected death at the age of 35 when he was at his most creative and productive. It is also a book about the significance of Mozart today.

Ketil Bjørnstad tells us about his first experience of Mozart and how it was to grow up with a composer he still plays every day. This is therefore also a personal memoir of Bjørnstad’s own upbringing in Oslo in the 50s, 60s and 70s, where connections to his trilogy about Aksel Vinding are evident. Bjørnstad writes about the decisions he had to make early in life when he realized he would have to abandon his career as a classical pianist and instead make a future out of being an author, composer and jazz musician. He weaves two widely different stories together to shape a tale of the control exercised by the authorities, the daily struggle for existence, and the miracles of liberation. A tribute to the groundbreaking power of music.

Ketil Bjørnstad

Ketil Bjørnstad

Ketil Bjørnstad is a musician, composer and writer. Versatile and prolific, he has published more than 30 books – poetry, novels and factual accounts of the lives of the painters Oda Krohg and Edvard Munch, the author Hans Jæger, the musician Ole Bull and the film artist Liv Ullmann. His books have been published in several languages.

Meticulous research is presented with all the lyricism of a modernist musical style … Bjørnstad’s poetic prose has authority and beauty.

Lesley McDowell, Independent on Sunday

This writer obviously possesses every kind of talent possible.

Nils C. Ahl, Le Monde

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Oslo Literary Agency
Even Råkil
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Edited October 31, 2023 by Oslo Literary Agency