Mozart in Vienna (1781-1791)

 Classical Music / Composer

 

At the age of 25, Wolfgang A. Mozart left Salzburg for Vienna. He arrives on the 16th of March, 1781, at 9 0'clock in the morning. The last ten years of his life will be spent in this city. In this period he writes such masterpieces as the "Magic Flute", his most important symphonies and the unfinished Requiem Mass as he lays dying. 

In Vienna Mozart takes charge of his own works as an independent musician, becoming the first freelance composer by supporting himself through commissions for compositions and by giving piano lessons. He meets world famous composers and librettists. Here is where he reaches the limits of his popularity.  

Mozart marries Constanze Weber at the gothic St. Stephen's Cathedral in 1782, 4th of August.

Whilst composing the Requiem, Mozart became seriously ill. He died on December 5, 1791 at the age of 35. He died in the house at the corner of Rauhensteingasse and Himmelpfortgasse (1st floor). Sincee September 1790, it was Mozart's home. His body was consecrated in the same place where he married Constanze Weber: at St. Stephen's Cathedral.

Please watch at YouTube! We're no longer allowed to embed the video.

Mozart in Vienna - Documentary about Mozart's Life (with English sub-titles). YouTube, EuroArtsChannel.  Accessed March 16, 2018.  

(c) 2017. Tel. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: A Biography

Classical Music / Composers Datebook:  January 27 

 

Arguably, the greatest composer of all time, Wolfgang Mozart composed more than 600 works including: 21 theatre/stage and opera works, 15 Masses, over 50 symphonies, 25 piano concertos, 12 violin concertos (many more violin sonatas),  27 concert arias, 17 piano sonatas, 26 string quartets, concertos for clarinet and other wind instruments, chamber music, and many other pieces. Together with the work of his older contemporary he called "Papa" Haydn, Mozart's music marks the height of the Classical era in its supposed purity of melody and symmetricality of form. Since his early death in 1791, the popularity of Mozart keep soaring that even younger musicians continue to translate his music to suit their generation.   

Johann Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, better known as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (January 27, 1756 – December 5, 1791) was born in Salzburg, Austria, to a musician father Leopold Mozart and mother, Anna Pertl. Of the seven children, only Mozart and his older sister (Maria Anna or "Nannerl" as family called her) survived infancy. Leopold Mozart was himself a composer and an excellent teacher. He was a court musician of the archbishop's chapel in Salzburg, and the author of a well-known book on violin-playing. 

 

 Mozart's Younger Years

Mozart's birthplace (German: geburtshaus) was at No. 9 Getreidegasse in Salzburg. As children, Nannerl and Wolfgang showed early musical promise.  

Taught by his father, Mozart was an infant prodigy. He began to play the harpsichord at the age of three, compose at the age of five, and wrote his first minuet at six. This time Mozart went on his first tour with his family. The family lived like this for years, touring and playing over Europe. Before his ninth birthday, he composed his first symphony, wrote his first oratorio at 11, and the first opera the following year.  

 

 Mozart's Youthful Years and First Love

 In Mannheim, Germany, he fell in love with a young soprano, Aloysia Weber. His love was not reciprocated. A year later, in 1778, his beloved mother died in Paris. With heartache from the double loss of his mother and first love, he returned to Salzburg. He found work at the court but unhappy with the court restrictions, Mozart left Salzburg for Vienna in  1781, and decided to go solo, a freelance musician.

 

 

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - a Gifted Child Prodigy

Wolfgang Amadé Mozart, boy genius before turning 5 years old.
 
A glimpse of Mozart, from being baby Mozart until aged 5, when he started composing.
Years 1756-1760.

The pages in most Mozart biography books usually remain blank between his second day and before his fifth birthday. Naturally, a baby has to be cared for and to grow sometime. So did Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Since his father Leopold already worked for the Prince Archbishop, it can be implied that Mozart was born into musical service.

Mozart began to play the harpsichord at three years old. Nannerl his sister gave a glimpse of what her baby brother was doing. According to her, Wolfgang spent a lot of time picking out small chords at the keyboard, and would be well pleased when his music sounded good.

The teenage years of Mozart were significant as he undertook more travels in Europe and compositions in the employ of the older supportive Archbishop of Salzburg, unlike the later, a less sympathetic archbishop.

Links:

Biography: Mozart.  Accessed December 5, 2013

Mozart Bio. Accessed December 5, 2017  

Mozart Biography in Pictures and Music.  Accessed December 5, 2013 



(c) 2008-2017.  Tel Asiado. Inspired Pen Web. All rights reserved.