Mozart's Starling

In 1784, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart met a flirtatious little starling who sang the theme from his Piano Concerto Number 17 in G to him. Knowing a kindred spirit when he met one, Mozart wrote 'that was wonderful' in his journal and took the bird home to be his pet. For 3 years Mozart and his family enjoyed the uniquely delightful company of the starling until one April morning when the bird passed away. In 2013, Lyanda Lynn Haupt rescued her own starling, Carmen, who has become a part of her family. Here, Haupt explores the unlikely bond between one of history's most controversial characters and one of history's most notoriously disliked birds.