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The Mozart’s arrive in Britain with high hopes, but unexpected problems arise. With Donald Macleod.

When Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was just seven years old, he and his family set out on an epic journey. Their goal: to travel through Europe and become famous; bringing their awesomely talented children to concert halls, homes and royal palaces across Germany, Belgium, France, Britain, the Netherlands and Switzerland. At the start of their trip, young Wolfgang could already perform and improvise better than most adults. By the time they returned home, three and a half years later, he’d grown into a fully fledged composer of sonatas, symphonies and arias. This week, Donald Macleod accompanies the Mozart family on their musical marathon and invites us to follow their many scrapes and adventures.

Today, the Mozarts change their plans and divert to London, lured by the promise of large profits to be made in Europe’s wealthiest capital. The children quickly make a big impression at Buckingham House, but a mystery disease threatens to derail their progress.

Sonata No 14, K 29: I. Allegro molto
François Fernandez, violin
Pierre Hantaï, harpsichord

Divertimento in F, K 138
Hagen Quartet

Va, dal furor portata, K 21
Rolando Villazón, tenor
London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Antonio Pappano

Symphony No 1 in E flat major, K 16
Northern Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Nicholas Ward

Flute Sonata in C major, K 14
Marc Grauwels, flute
Guy Penson, harpsichord