Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Early Life

  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was an Austrian composer of the Classical era, born on January 27, 1756, in Salzburg, who produced over 600 works ...

 

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was an Austrian composer of the Classical era, born on January 27, 1756, in Salzburg, who produced over 600 works including operas, symphonies, and chamber music, revolutionizing musical form and expression.​

Early Life

Mozart displayed prodigious talent under his father Leopold's tutelage, performing publicly at age five and touring Europe from 1762 to 1766, composing his first symphony in London. Appointed Konzertmeister in Salzburg in 1772, he wrote early operas like La finta semplice by 1768. Frustrated with Salzburg service, he traveled seeking opportunities, composing violin concertos and Idomeneo during 1777-1781.​

Vienna Career

Mozart settled in Vienna in 1781, marrying Constanze Weber in 1782 and achieving success with Die Entführung aus dem Serail. Masterpieces followed: The Marriage of Figaro (1786), Don Giovanni (1787), Così fan tutte (1790), and The Magic Flute (1791), alongside his final symphony No. 41 "Jupiter." Financial struggles mounted despite popularity, as he freelanced without steady patronage.​

Later Years and Legacy

In 1791, Mozart began his Requiem but left it unfinished due to illness. He died on December 5, 1791, at age 35 in Vienna, likely from fever or rheumatic disease, and was buried in a pauper's grave. His genius endures in perfect balance of melody, harmony, and drama, influencing all subsequent composers.​