Mozart

Wolfang Amadeus Mozart is maybe the greatest genious in the history of mankind. He was born in the German city Salzburg on the 27th of January 1756. He was the son of Leopold Mozart, a violinplayer and composer. His unique musical talents were developed at a very early age and his father, who looked at Wolfgangs musicality with great joy, gave his son lessons in pianoplay and composition when he was only four years old.

There are many stories about the prodigy Mozart and how he at a very young age did the most incredible things. As example, when he was five, he picked up a violin and started to play on it, without ever having touched a violin before. At the year 1762, Mozart and his sister Nannerl (also highly musical talented) showed their abilities at the courts in Vienna and Munich. The six year old Mozart made tricks like playing with the hands behinds his back and the keyboard covered with cloth. He had also at this time seriously began to compose music for keyboard.

In 1763 they visited Paris and London(and many other European cities) where Mozart made a big impression with his piano-, organ- and violinplay, and of course for his incredible improvisations. The Mozart’s stayed for 16 months in London and here they met Bach´s youngest son Johann Christian, who made a big impression on the young Wolfgang. It was at this time Mozart started to compose his first symphony and some other orchestral pieces. After the London visit, the Mozarts continues their European tour and their finally ended it 29th of November 1766 in Salzburg.

During these years Mozart had spend every spare moment composing music. This was what Mozarts childhood was all about. Learning, travelling, performing and composing. Between the years 1769 and 1773, Mozart and his father travelled to Italy three times. This didn’t only increase his reputation as a composer but did also give him great knowledge in the art of opera. 1772 he was employed by the archbishop as conductor for his orchestra and 1779 as courtorganist. 1777 he travelled with his mother to Paris, and during a stop in Mannheim he listened to some operas by Holzbauer and Schweitzer. He also became deeply in love with the singer Aloysia Weber, who-to his great sorrow- didn’t feel quite the same for him.

The time in Paris became severe for Mozart. His mother died and his compositions didn’t bring as much fortune as he had hoped for. But one mustn’t forget though, that he during this time wrote several tremendous instrumental works. E.g. the ‘Parissymphony’. He returned to Salzburg in January 1780. This was the year he wrote the opera "Idomeneo", his first mature musicdramatical work. In 1781 he moved to Vienna to work as an independent composer. He was during some years the most celebrated pianist in Vienna and composed many pianoconcertos.

In 1782 he married Aloysia Webers sister Konstanze. 1786 he wrote the opera "The marriage of Figaro" which became a huge success. After this it was time for his next big opera, "Don Giovanni", also a success, especially in Prague. During these years 1782-85 he wrote his very fine stringquartets and 1788 he wrote the last three of his symphonies, all of them totally excellent. His last great works are the opera "The magic flute" and the deathmass "Requiem". Mozart died 1791, after several month of illness.

He is buried at a place that today is unknown. The number of works produced is , considering his short life, enormous. He seams to have written down what he already had completed in his head. He wrote music for every style one could write for in the 18th century and did it all with perfection. His music characterises by graceful and light, never flat melodics, and a perfect feeling for the balance and expression of the piece.

Mozart excelled at nearly every kind of musical composition. He wrote 22 operas, over 40 symphonies, and composed a great amount of church and chamber music. Much of Mozart's work is still performed and enjoyed today.