Mozart – A Musical Phenomenon
Oct 21st, 2010 Posted in entertainment | no comment »Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg on January 27th 1756. Mozart’s father, Leopold Mozart, was a composer and violinist so the young Mozart grew up in a music-loving family. Mozart had one sibling who survived and that was Anna who was born to Leopold and his wife Anna Maria Pertl in 1951.
From the age of just 4 years old Wolfgang was showing signs of talent for music and could play the same piano pieces as his older sister. He composed his first minuet at age 5 and full symphonies at age 9. The siblings were taken on a tour of Vienna by their father in 1792 where they performed for various members of the nobility, both children played piano and Wolfgang played violin as well. In 1763 their father took them on a longer tour of Europe to play for ambassadors and nobles. Mozart was commissioned to write his first opera, Mitridate, re di Ponto at the age of 14.
Mozart’s father tried to persuade him away from the life of a freelance composer steering him towards the idea that he could still live off his talent by becoming employed as part of a nobleman’s court. However it was not easy for Mozart to find a position working in the court of a member of the aristocracy because he was still so young. Mozart eventually found employment within the court of the Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg but continued to seek work elsewhere. Mozart found life in Salzburg too provincial and felt limited. He also wanted to achieve independence from his father who continually thwarted Mozart’s opportunities for romance. His father was keen for his son not to become embroiled in personal matters and keep on working and earning money for his family.
Mozart resigned from the Prince-Archbishop’s court in 1781 after a spectacular argument. His father of course was against his resignation but Wolfgang stood his ground and moved to Vienna where he tried to make a living as a freelance musician and composer. Relations with his father were further destroyed when Mozart married a penniless singer called Constanze Weber in 1782.
Mozart stayed in Vienna for the next 9 years and spent his time composing, playing and teaching music. During this time Mozart composed some of his most famous pieces of work. Although Mozart was gaining much recognition for his work the latter part of his life was plagued with money problems and his anguish at the death of his father without reconciliation between the two. Mozart died suddenly at the age of 35 on December 5th 1791 from and unspecified febrile condition.
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