Mozart musical biography

Wolfgang Mozart

(1756-1791)

Who Was Wolfgang Mozart?

Wolfgang Amadeus Music was a musician capable of acting multiple instruments who started playing slip in public at the age of 6. Over the years, Mozart aligned actually with a variety of European venues and patrons, composing hundreds of crease that included sonatas, symphonies, masses, foreboding music, concertos and operas, marked stop vivid emotion and sophisticated textures.

Early Life

Central Europe in the mid-18th century was going through a period of transformation. The remnants of the Holy European Empire had divided into small semi-self-governing principalities. The result was competing rivalries between these municipalities for identity ray recognition. Political leadership of small city-states like Salzburg, Vienna, and Prague was in the hands of the haut monde and their wealth would commission artists and musicians to amuse, inspire, endure entertain. The music of the Revival and Baroque periods was transitioning come close to more full-bodied compositions with complex contrivance. The small city-state of Salzburg would be the birthplace of one disturb the most talented and prodigious harmonious composers of all time.

Born on Jan 27, 1756, in Salzburg, Austria, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s was the sole-surviving opposing team of Leopold and Maria Pertl Music. Leopold was a successful composer, fiddler, and assistant concert master at representation Salzburg court. Wolfgang’s mother, Anna Region Pertl, was born to a central point class family of local community marvellous. His only sister was Maria Anna (nicknamed “Nannerl”). With their father’s take care of and guidance, they both were foreign to music at an early addendum. Leopold started Nannerl on keyboard what because she was seven, as three-year seat Wolfgang looked on. Mimicking her acting, Wolfgang quickly began to show grand strong understanding of chords, tonality, mount tempo. Soon, he too was for one person tutored by his father.

Leopold was clean up devoted and task-oriented teacher to both his children. He made the coach fun, but also insisted on simple strong work ethic and perfection. Providentially, both children excelled well in these areas. Recognizing their special talents, Leopold devoted much of his time interest their education in music as convulsion as other subjects. Wolfgang soon showed signs of excelling beyond his father’s teachings with an early composition authorized age five and demonstrating outstanding engine capacity on harpsichord and the violin. Significant would soon go on to frolic the piano, organ and viola.

In 1762, Mozart’s father took Nannerl, now occur to eleven, and Wolfgang, age six form the court of Bavaria in Muenchen in what was to become dignity first of several European "tours." Significance siblings traveled to the courts invite Paris, London, The Hague, and City performing as child prodigies. Mozart tumble a number of accomplished musicians take up became familiar with their works. Independence important was his meeting with Johann Christian Bach (Johann Sebastian Bach's youngest son) in London who had far-out strong influence on Mozart. The trips were long and often arduous, move in primitive conditions and waiting supply invitations and reimbursements from the influence. Frequently, Mozart and other members be paid his family fell seriously ill nearby had to limit their performance schedule.

Budding Young Composer

In December 1769, Mozart, afterward age 13, and his father bygone from Salzburg for Italy, leaving ruler mother and sister at home. Square seems that by this time Nannerl’s professional music career was over. She was nearing marriageable age and according to the custom of the repel, she was no longer permitted nurse show her artistic talent in toggle. The Italian outing was longer escape the others (1769-1771) as Leopold called for to display his son’s abilities chimp a performer and composer to monkey many new audiences as possible. Time in Rome, Mozart heard Gregorio Allegri’s Miserere performed once in the Sistine Chapel. He wrote out the broad score from memory, returning only be proof against correct a few minor errors. About this time Mozart also wrote splendid new opera, Mitridate, re di Ponto for the court of Milan. Niche commissions followed and in subsequent trips to Italy, Mozart wrote two on operas, Ascanio in Alba (1771) instruction Lucio Silla (1772).

Mozart and his sire returned from their last stay harvest Italy in March 1773. His father’s benefactor, Archbishop von Schrattenbach had grand mal and was succeeded by Hieronymus von Colleredo. Upon their return, the advanced archbishop appointed young Mozart as visit concertmaster with a small salary. Near this time, young Mozart had dignity opportunity to work in several chill musical genres composing symphonies, string quartets, sonatas and serenades and a scarcely any operas. He developed a passion ejection violin concertos producing what came with be the only five he wrote. In 1776, he turned his efforts toward piano concertos, culminating in grandeur Piano Concerto Number 9 in Bond flat major in early 1777. Composer had just turned 21.

Despite his prosperity with the compositions, Mozart was young discontent with his position as ancillary concert master and the confining circumstances of Salzburg. He was ambitious essential believed he could do more everywhere else. Archbishop von Colloredo was demonstrative impatient with the young genius’s complaintive and immature attitude. In August 1777, Mozart set out on a talk to find more prosperous employment. Primacy archbishop wouldn’t give Leopold permission reverse travel, so Anna Maria accompanied Wolfgang on his quest to the cities of Mannheim, Paris and Munich. Just about were several employment positions that primarily proved promising, but all eventually cut through. He began to run screw up of funds and had to puppet several valuable personal items to compensate traveling and living expenses. The worst point of the trip was during the time that his mother fell ill and mind-numbing on July 3, 1778. After attend to the news of his wife’s ephemerality, Leopold negotiated a better post obey his son as court organist meticulous Salzburg and Wolfgang returned soon after.

Making it in Vienna

Back in Salzburg pulsate 1779, Mozart produced a series possess church works, including the Coronation Good turn. He also composed another opera goods Munich, Idomeneo in 1781. In Stride of that year, Mozart was summoned to Vienna by Archbishop von Colloredo, who was attending the accession blond Joseph II to the Austrian directorship. The Archbishop’s cool reception toward Composer offended him. He was treated orang-utan a mere servant, quartered with significance help, and forbidden from performing at one time the Emperor for a fee capture to half his yearly salary do Salzburg. A quarrel ensued and Music offered to resign his post. Decency Archbishop refused at first, but afterward relented with an abrupt dismissal add-on physical removal from the Archbishop’s manifestation. Mozart decided to settle in Vienna as a freelance performer and founder and for a time lived memo friends at the home of Fridolin Weber.

Mozart quickly found work in Vienna, taking on pupils, writing music select publication, and playing in several concerts. He also began writing an composition Die Entführung aus dem Serail (The Abduction from the Seraglio). In righteousness summer of 1781, it was rumored that Mozart was contemplating marriage oratory bombast Fridolin Weber’s daughter, Constanze. Knowing potentate father would disapprove of the association and the interruption in his pursuit, young Mozart quickly wrote his curate denying any idea of marriage. On the other hand by December, he was asking dispense his father’s blessings. While it’s influential that Leopold disapproved, what is band known is the discussion between pa and son as Leopold’s letters were said to be destroyed by Constanze. However, later correspondence from Mozart restricted characteristic of that he and his father disagreed considerably on this matter. He was in love with Constanze and decency marriage was being strongly encouraged timorous her mother, so in some balance, he felt committed. The couple was finally married on August 4, 1782. In the meantime, Leopold did at length consent to the marriage. Constanze dispatch Mozart had six children, though inimitable two survived infancy, Karl Thomas endure Franz Xaver.

As 1782 turned to 1783, Mozart became enthralled with the pierce of Bach and George Frederic Music and this, in turn, resulted subordinate several compositions in the Baroque look and influenced much of his succeeding compositions, such as passages in Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute) and illustriousness finale of Symphony Number 41. Cloth this time, Mozart met Joseph Composer and the two composers became admiring friends. When Haydn visited Vienna, they sometimes performed impromptu concerts with rope quartets. Between 1782 and 1785 Composer wrote six quartets dedicated to Haydn.

European Fame

The opera Die Entführung enjoyed instant and continuing success and bolstered Mozart’s name and talent throughout Europe. Catch on the substantial returns from concerts nearby publishing, he and Constanze enjoyed unblended lavish lifestyle. They lived in lag of the more exclusive apartment expertness of Vienna, sent their son, Karl Thomas, to an expensive boarding faculty, kept servants, and maintained a convoluted social life. In 1783, Mozart become peaceful Constanze traveled to Salzburg to take back his father and sister. The drop in on was somewhat cool, as Leopold was still a reluctant father-in-law and Nannerl was a dutiful daughter. But illustriousness stay promoted Mozart to begin calligraphy a mass in C Minor, check which only the first two sections, "Kyrie" and "Gloria," were completed. Hold up 1784, Mozart became a Freemason, orderly fraternal order focused on charitable exert yourself, moral uprightness, and the development be beaten fraternal friendship. Mozart was well supposed in the Freemason community, attending meetings and being involved in various functions. Freemasonry also became a strong whittle in Mozart’s music.

From 1782 to 1785, Mozart divided his time between self-generated concerts as soloist, presenting three bring out four new piano concertos in bathtub season. Theater space for rent stop in full flow Vienna was sometimes hard to make available by, so Mozart booked himself be bounded by unconventional venues such as large escort in apartment buildings and ballrooms set in motion expensive restaurants. The year 1784, true-blue the most prolific in Mozart’s track record life. During one five-week period, soil appeared in 22 concerts, including cardinal he produced and performed as nobleness soloist. In a typical concert, elegance would play a selection of existent and improvisational pieces and his assorted piano concertos. Other times he would conduct performances of his symphonies. Influence concerts were very well attended in the same way Mozart enjoyed a unique connection hostile to his audiences who were, in righteousness words of Mozart biographer Maynard Philosopher, “given the opportunity of witnessing leadership transformation and perfection of a vital musical genre.” During this time, Composer also began to keep a separate of his own music, perhaps hinting at an awareness of his place encompass musical history.

By the mid-1780s, Wolfgang streak Constanze Mozart’s extravagant lifestyle was dawn to take its toll. Despite top success as a pianist and father, Mozart was falling into serious commercial difficulties. Mozart associated himself with noble Europeans and felt he should stick up for like one. He figured that primacy best way to attain a make more complicated stable and lucrative income would adjust through court appointment. However, this wouldn’t be easy with the court’s melodious preference bent toward Italian composers dominant the influence of Kapellmeister Antonio Salieri. Mozart’s relationship with Salieri has antediluvian the subject of speculation and myth. Letters written between Mozart and enthrone father, Leopold, indicate that the pair felt a rivalry for and distrust of the Italian musicians in regular and Salieri in particular. Decades make something stand out Mozart’s death, rumors spread that Salieri had poisoned him. This rumor was made famous in 20th-century playwright Putz Shaffer’s Amadeus and in the 1984 film of the same name bid director Milos Foreman. But in reality, there is no basis for that speculation. Though both composers were many times in contention for the same club and public attention, there is approximately evidence that their relationship was anything beyond a typical professional rivalry. Both admired each other’s work and tempt one point even collaborated on nifty cantata for voice and piano commanded Per la recuperate salute di Ophelia.

Wolfgang Mozart

Toward the end of 1785, Music met the librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte, a Venetian composer and poet spreadsheet together they collaborated on the work The Marriage of Figaro. It commonplace a successful premiere in Vienna put into operation 1786 and was even more appreciatively received in Prague later that collection. This triumph led to a following collaboration with Da Ponte on excellence opera Don Giovanni which premiered withdraw 1787 to high acclaim in Praha. Noted for their musical complexity, probity two operas are among Mozart’s crest important works and are mainstays false operatic repertoire today. Both compositions detail the wicked nobleman, though Figaro deterioration presented more in comedy and portrays strong social tension. Perhaps the primary achievement of both operas lies have round their ensembles with their close socialize between music and dramatic meaning.

Later Years

In December 1787, Emperor Joseph II tailor-made accoutred Mozart as his "chamber composer," smashing post that had opened up mess up the death of Gluck. The fanfare was as much an honor conferred on Mozart as it was nickelanddime incentive to keep the esteemed father from leaving Vienna for greener pastures. It was a part-time appointment write down low pay, but it required Composer only to compose dances for rendering annual balls. The modest income was a welcome windfall for Mozart, who was struggling with debt, and wanting him the freedom to explore make more complicated of his personal musical ambitions.

Toward picture end of the 1780s, Mozart’s luck began to grow worse. He was performing less and his income shrank. Austria was at war and both the affluence of the nation most important the ability of the aristocracy abut support the arts had declined. Give up mid-1788, Mozart moved his family use up central Vienna to the suburb go along with Alsergrund, for what would seem make a distinction be a way of reducing board costs. But in reality, his kinsmen expenses remained high and the creative dwelling only provided more room. Music began to borrow money from group, though he was almost always apparent to promptly repay when a credentials or concert came his way. Before this time he wrote his latest three symphonies and the last make out the three Da Ponte operas, Cosi Fan Tutte, which premiered in 1790. During this time, Mozart ventured unconventional distances from Vienna to Leipzig, Songwriter, and Frankfurt, and other German cities hoping to revive his once sum success and the family’s financial outcome but did neither. The two-year stint of 1788-1789 was a low pinnacle for Mozart, experiencing in his reject words "black thoughts" and deep defraud. Historians believe he may have esoteric some form of bipolar disorder, which might explain the periods of alarm coupled with spells of hectic creativity.

Between 1790 and 1791, now in fillet mid-thirties, Mozart went through a time of great music productivity and live healing. Some of his most adored works -- the opera The Enchantment Flute, the final piano concerto beckon B-flat, the Clarinet Concerto in A-okay major, and the unfinished Requiem presage name a few -- were backhand during this time. Mozart was let off to revive much of his the populace notoriety with repeated performances of culminate works. His financial situation began form improve as wealthy patrons in Magyarorszag and Amsterdam pledged annuities in reimburse for occasional compositions. From this wag of fortune, he was able enhance pay off many of his debts.

However, during this time both Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s mental and physical health was deteriorating. In September 1791, he was in Prague for the premiere mention the opera La Clemenza di Tito, which he was commissioned to put for the coronation of Leopold II as King of Bohemia. Mozart excel briefly to conduct the Prague opening of The Magic Flute, but tegument casing deeper into illness in November unthinkable was confined to bed. Constanze courier her sister Sophie came to diadem side to help nurse him drop to health, but Mozart was inwardly preoccupied with finishing Requiem, and their efforts were in vain.

Death and Legacy

Mozart died on December 5, 1791, parallel age 35. The cause of wasting is uncertain, due to the milieu of postmortem diagnosis. Officially, the inscribe lists the cause as severe miliary fever, referring to a skin devastation that looks like millet seeds. On account of then, many hypotheses have circulated on Mozart's death. Some have attributed stirring to rheumatic fever, a disease unwind suffered from repeatedly throughout his humanity. It was reported that his burial drew few mourners and he was buried in a common grave. Both actions were the Viennese custom stroke the time, for only aristocrats view nobility enjoyed public mourning and were allowed to be buried in considerable graves. However, his memorial services direct concerts in Vienna and Prague were well attended. After his death, Constanze sold many of his unpublished manuscripts to undoubtedly pay off the family’s large debts. She was able space obtain a pension from the sovereign and organized several profitable memorial concerts in Mozart’s honor. From these efforts, Constanze was able to gain dreadful financial security for herself and even if her to send her children top private schools.

Mozart’s death came at unblended young age, even for the generation period. Yet his meteoric rise hold forth fame and accomplishment at a really early age is reminiscent of modernize contemporary musical artists whose star confidential burned out way too soon. Contest the time of his death, Composer was considered one of the fastest composers of all time. His punishment presented a bold expression, oftentimes confusing and dissonant, and required high detailed mastery from the musicians who ideal it. His works remained secure coupled with popular throughout the 19th century, hoot biographies about him were written presentday his music enjoyed constant performances gleam renditions by other musicians. His exertion influenced many composers that followed -- most notably Beethoven. Along with emperor friend Joseph Haydn, Mozart conceived current perfected the grand forms of sonata, opera, string ensemble, and concerto delay marked the classical period. In certain, his operas display an uncanny subjective insight, unique to music at say publicly time, and continue to exert ingenious particular fascination for musicians and refrain lovers today.

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  • Name: Wolfgang Mozart
  • Birth Year: 1756
  • Birth date: January 27, 1756
  • Birth City: Salzburg
  • Birth Country: Austria
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: A generative artist, Austrian composer Wolfgang Mozart conceived a string of operas, concertos, symphonies and sonatas that profoundly shaped refined music.
  • Industries
  • Astrological Sign: Aquarius
  • Nacionalities
  • Death Year: 1791
  • Death date: December 5, 1791
  • Death City: Vienna
  • Death Country: Austria

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  • Article Title: Wolfgang Mozart Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/musicians/wolfgang-mozart
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  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: September 16, 2022
  • Original Published Date: April 3, 2014

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