Happy 262nd Birthday, Mozart!

Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Gebuststag Mozart!

Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart

(January 27, 1756 - December 5, 1791)

What can I say of this beloved composer that I haven't already said?  Inspired Pen Web joins Mozart lovers and enthusiasts worldwide in celebrating the 262nd birthday anniversary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, January 27. 

Alongside all the many articles written about Mozart, including those I've posted in this website, for this year 2018, the 262nd birthday anniversary of this beloved genius,  I've decided to feature 12 of his music, thanks to Youtube, uploaded by olfux, and narrated by the late Peter Ustinov, two-time Academy Award-winning film actor, director, writer, journalist and raconteur.

1. Mozart and his music (1 of 12)
The early years with a broad education by his father, Leopold Mozart.




2. Mozart and his music (2 of 12)
The years of traveling. Wolfgang Mozart, "das Wunderkind," performs for the most dignified persons all over Europe with his father as absolute promoter and accountant.

3. Mozart and his music (3 of 12)
Mozart's life as an adult begins with new journeys, but on account of his father's professional necessity, now accompanied by his mother. The first destinations were Augsburg and Mannheim. In Mannheim he became acquainted with a new kind of music marking the end of the Baroque period. In 1778 he composed 'Paris Symphony ' with many of the new musical features and to his father's dismay he fell in love with the fifteen years old soprano Aloysia Weber. 

4. Mozart and his music (4 of 12) 
After many desperate warnings from his father against women Mozart and his mother went to Paris on the fathers orders. Here a great artistic war raged between supporters of Gluck and Piccini and in this war there were no place for the young Mozart. Depressed and lonely the mother collapsed and shortly after she died. On his way home to his father Mozart passed by Munich to see Aloysia only to be rejected by the now celebrated singer credited the Bavarian Court. Heartbroken he came home to Salzburg, but shortly after he was comissioned to write an opera, Idomeneo, the premiere of which he watched in Munich.

5. Mozart and his music (5 of 12)
After some time living at home in Salzburg with his father, Mozart moved to Vienna. After some time he marries Constanze Weber, Aloysia's younger sister, without his fathers approval. He now writes the Mass in C minor.

6. Mozart and his music (6 of 12)
Mass in C Minor. Mozart now composed with a new intensity and his reputation grew hastily. Emperor Joseph II commissioned a new opera, The Abduction from the Seraglio, which became the first of his five greatest opera

7. Mozart and his music (7 of 12)
A happy period with one masterpiece after another from Mozart's hand with an astonishing speed. With help from his librettist Lorenzo da Ponte, favoured by emperor Joseph II, and then The marriage of Figaro which many has called an advance of the french revolution, written in six weeks! 

8. Mozart and his music (8 of 12) 
At the height of his career as a composer Mozart's self-confidence was boundless, but as a person he never grew up to act as an adult. He was at times unspeakably childish and always as thoughtless as his work was disciplined. Symphony in G minor, Symphony in C major "Jupiter," Piano sonata in C major.
 
9. Mozart and his music (9 of 12) 
Vienna became a center for musical backbiting in which Mozart took part with enthusiasm. He never forgot, that his opera, written when he was a child - La finta semplice - The Pretended Simpleton - had been rejected by older colleagues. His new opera - Don Giovanni - therefore had its premiere in Prague, where later, it also became a great success in Vienna.

10. Mozart and his music (10 of 12)
After the death of his father Mozart's marriage became less happy as Constance's physical virtues could no longer hide her limited intellectual capabilities. Besides they were often low on money.

11. Mozart and his music (11 of 12) 
Cosi fan tutte - Sinfonia concertante for violin, viola and orchestra - 23 piano concertos - String quintet in G minor. Mozart was no revolutionary, but he constantly changed the concept of the known forms and often let the instruments sing like the human voice in solo-parties. In spite of his enormous popularity he never had an official employment. Gradually his personal problems worsened and eventually the Vienna-public let him down. He tried to find new strength by the free masons. In this sad period he was commissioned an opera for the celebration of the coronation of Leopold II - La clemenca di Tito - and soon after, The magic flute, and finally a requiem.

12. Mozart and his music (12 of 12) 
Requiem. A mysterious person ordered a requiem which would be well paid for on certain conditions: Nor the composer or whom the requiem was written for was ever to be revealed. (Later a count Wallsegg claimed the requiem was his work). Mozart agreed, he needed the money and the deadly illness of smallpox already raged in his body. He never completed the work (Franz Xaver Süssmayr was an Austrian composer and conductor, Mozart's pupil and friend completed the unfinished Requiem in D Minor), and on his deathbed listened with friends and family around him to the Lacrimosa and died, 35 years old. He was buried in a massgrave which was common practise with people of modest wealth and which Mozart himself would have found naturally.


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