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<jats:p>Francis Claudon : Mozart and court entertainment. </jats:p>
<jats:p>Mozart is often seen as the symbol of an old-fashioned court art, but in many respects he can be considered to have revitalised and transformed court entertainment, as can be seen from examples concerning mainly Germany and Italy. Court theatre (Hofoper ) was not necessarily Italianising or Francophile, as Mozart showed with Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail, immediately performed throughout Germany. More generally, the fashion for Mozart operas, including his serious ones, shows that people wanted to ' understand ' what was happening even when they preferred lighter works. Above all we see from Mozart's performances that court theatre wanted to become more national and Germanic. That is why certain works which were not originally court commissions, such as The Magic Flute or Don Giovanni became great successes at the beginning of the 19th Century in court theatres throughout Europe.</jats:p>