International Cinema Festival of India

Born on the 27th of January 1756 in Salzburg, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart‘s musical roots were established from the very beginning of his life. His father Leopold was a composer of some note and also an accomplished violinist. Mozart’s mother was Anna Maria Pertl and he had one sister called Anna who was born in 1951.

At just 4 years old Wolfgang’s talent for music was already startlingly evident. He was able to play the same pieces on the piano that his older sister could. At 5 years old Wolfgang had composed his first minuet and this was followed by his first symphony, which is said to have been composed when he was only 9 years old. Wolfgang and his sister went on a tour of Vienna with their father in 1792 where they played for various members of the aristocracy. Both children played piano and Wolfgang played the violin also. Their father arranged a longer tour of Europe for his children in 1763 and again the children performed for the aristocracy of several countries. Mozart was commissioned to compose his first opera at the age of 14 – it was called Mitridate, re di Ponto.

Mozart’s father was keen for his son to make a living from his talent as part of a nobleman’s court rather than on his own as he considered this to be the more stable option, however it was difficult for Mozart to find such a position as most courts were not prepared to take on a composer so young – despite Mozart’s obvious talent. Eventually Mozart found employment in his late adolescence/early twenties with the Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg. He continued to look for work elsewhere as he found life in provincial Salzburg too limiting. He was also frustrated by his father, who sabotaged any chance of romance for the young Mozart, who was keen to keep his son working to earn enough to support the whole family.

In 1781 Mozart clashed bitterly with the Prince-Archbishop and resigned from his post. His father opposed the resignation but 25-year-old Mozart had finally had enough. Mozart moved to Vienna to work as a freelance composer and musician although he continued to look for a position with an aristocratic court. Mozart further angered his father by marrying Constanze Weber, a singer from a poor family in 1782.

Mozart spent the next 9 years in Vienna teaching, playing and composing. During this period he wrote some of his most famous works – music that is considered to be some of the most accomplished in Western music. Mozart continued to gain recognition as a composer and musician but continuing financial problems plagued him. He also suffered great anguish after the death of his father as the two never reconciled properly over his move to Vienna and the marriage to Constanze. Mozart died suddenly from a feverish condition on 5 December 1791.

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