Might Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart have suffered from Tourette syndrome? In What Made Mozart Tic?, presenter James McConnel sets out on a quest to prove this enlightening theory.

"I've found compelling evidence in his behaviour. I believe it began in Mozart's childhood and that he had it all his life. It didn't kill him, but having Tourette Syndrome - when no-one else had the faintest idea what it was - must have made things very difficult"

A composer and Tourette's sufferer himself, not only is James confident in his theory, but he’s also convinced that the condition was good for Mozart's music.

"'The obsessions, the compulsions, and the constant need to keep the twitches and tics under control might have helped Mozart. I discovered a long time ago that playing and writing music made me feel better, and I believe that Mozart was the same. I am convinced that he used his glorious music to self medicate his symptoms and to ease the pain of Tourette Syndrome."

McConnel takes a voyage of discovery through the composer's life and times, to Salzburg and Vienna where Mozart composed some of his greatest music, to the houses where he lived and the concert halls where he performed. Mozart's work features heavily throughout, played by the Royal College of Music and Opera Arias and sung by soprano Lore Lixenburg.

What Made Mozart Tic? illustrates how Tourette's might have compelled Mozart to perform so obsessively as a child and fuelled the rush of composition in his twenties. McConnel also explains the vital clues in the composer's later works that suggest he was trying to tell the world of his condition before it was too late.

If you’d like to find out more about this condition, check out our Health feature on Tourette Syndrome which also contains details of useful organisations, websites and reading.

For more discussion on whether Mozart had Tourette Syndrome, the following links might be of interest:

Did Mozart Have Tourette Syndrome?
www.danielpublishing.com/books/suppl/simkin.html
Synopsis of the book "Medical and Musical Byways of Mozartiana" in which the author Benjamin Simkin presents a picture of the young genius's mind and puts forward his own theories about whether Mozart had Tourette Syndrome.

Learning with Mozart
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/387632.stm
BBC News article from 1999 describing how Mozart’s music has been used to help calm difficult children. The article discusses what is special about Mozart’s music and explores the idea that he might have had Tourette Syndrome.

Living with the Wounds and Blessings of Tourette Syndrome
www.childspirit.com/HEALIN~1.htm
This article from psychotherapist George Lynn discusses what he terms the ‘wounds’ of Tourette Syndrome and explores how these may have contributed to Mozart’s genius.

Mozart Behaving Badly
www.guardian.co.uk/arts/features/story/0%2C11710%2C1294717%2C00.html
James McConnel discusses his theory further in this Guardian article from September 2004.

"My Pen is Coarse and I am not Polite": Reading Mozart's Letters
www.andante.com/article/article.cfm?id=17722&highlight=1&highlightterms=&lstKeywords=
Article from Andante magazine looking at whether Mozart’s notoriously childish and vulgar letters are a strange deviation from his music or a window into the essential Mozart.

Success Stories: Famous People With Tourette Syndrome
www.tourettaville.com/info/success.html
This website lists famous people who have, or were thought to have, Tourette Syndrome.

Tourette and Mozart
www.tourettes-disorder.com/mozart.html
Detailed article from the Tourette’s Disorder website about Channel 4’s documentary and discussing the origins of the theories about Mozart and Tourettes.

Who Wants to Be a Genius?
www.flatrock.org.nz/topics/education/a
_rage_to_master.htm
Article exploring whether genius is innate or acquired, including discussion of whether certain forms of creativity are enhanced by disorders such as savant syndrome, autism and Tourette Syndrome.

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