An Austrian composer born in Salzburg. His father, Leopold Mozart {1719-87), was violinist and composer, and author of an important violin tutor. Leopold encouraged Wolfgang, who gave recitals at age 6. In 1763, Wolfgang began a long tour with his father and sister Maria Anna ("Nannerl"), who as a player was also a prodigy. By age 10 Wolfgang had composed his first symphonies and about 30 other works, and had also arranged several piano concertos from sonatas of J.C. Bach.. At age12, his first operas, "La finta semplice" and "Bastien und Bastienne".
Although he received tremendous international success as a child prodigy, Mozart had difficulty achieving patronage his genius deserved. He became the first composer ever to attempt to follow an independent freelance career. He suffered from great financial difficulties. Vienna remained his home, and there he taught piano, gave concerts and married Constanze Weber.
Towards the end of his life Mozart became interested in Freemasonry, which inspired "The Magic Flute" and some other works.
Music flowed from Mozart unceasingly and he was in the habit of composing complete movements in his mind in all their detail before writing them down.
Mozart's works were catalogued by Ludwig
Köchel (1862, revised Einstein, 1937) and are referred to
by "K" numbers.
A small selection of my favourite Mozart:
