Mozart's Sister

The documentary “Mozart’s Sister” examines the life of Maria‑Anna Mozart, who performed alongside her brother Wolfgang and received equal billing until she was sixteen. At that point, societal expectations forced her to retreat from public performance solely because she was a woman.

Mozart’s Sister is a one‑off documentary programme that focuses on a figure most people don’t hear much about. The film is presented as a single, self‑contained episode, rather than a series, and its title makes clear that the subject is the lesser‑known sibling of the famous composer. The central narrative follows Maria‑Anna Mozart, who, in her youth, performed alongside her brother and received the same level of recognition. Up until she turned sixteen, she enjoyed equal billing with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, sharing the spotlight in public performances and gaining comparable acclaim. At the age of sixteen, however, Maria‑Anna’s career took a sudden turn. Because she was a woman, she was compelled to step back from the public arena, effectively ending her musical life in the eyes of the audience. The documentary highlights how gender expectations forced her to withdraw, despite her evident talent and earlier parity with her brother. By tracing this abrupt shift, the programme sheds light on the broader context of 18th‑century attitudes toward women in music. It presents Maria‑Anna’s story not merely as a footnote to her brother’s fame, but as a poignant example of how societal norms could curtail a promising artistic career. The film therefore offers a concise yet compelling look at a talent that was silenced by the conventions of its time.