Biography of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart-Part 1

-1756 Birth

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born to Leopold and Anna Maria Pertl Mozart on January 26th 1756 in Salzburg. At the time, it was the capital of Archbishopric of Salzburg, a state of the Holy Roman Empire, and now it is part of Austria. Mozart was baptized a day later at St. Rupert’s Cathedral with the full name Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart. His father, Leopold, was an ambitious violinist and composer from a family of good standing who had just published a well-reviewed violin textbook (“A Treatise on the Fundamental Principles of Violin Playing”, transl. E.Knocker; Oxford-New York, 1948) that year. Leopold was also deputy Kapellmeister at the court of the Archbishop of Salzburg. His mother was from a middle-class family involved in local administration. Mozart and his sister Maria Anna (Nannerl) were the only two children of the family that survived. Nannerl was also highly talented, but did not gain recognition like Mozart due to the social context.

-1759 Musical Talents Discovered (3)

Mozart’s musical talents came to light when he was about 3 years old. Leopold gave up composing to give him intensive musical training. Mozart learned clavier, violin and organ from his father. He was able to play short pieces of music by four.

-1761 First Compositions and Performances (5)

Mozart’s first composition which he wrote at the age of five was Andante and Allegro in C for Piano (KV 1a, 1b — the Köchel-Verzeichnis is a chronological catalogue of Mozart’s works). In 1762, the family travel around Europe for the children to perform under the halo of child prodigies. These exhibitions started with a performance at the Court of the Elector of Bavaria, then at the Imperial Court in Vienna and Prague.

-1763 Concert Tour in Europe (7)

In 1763, Leopold took a leave of absence from the court of Salzburg to take the children on tour. The concert tour lasted 3 years, taking them to courts, noble houses and churches in Munich, Augsburg, Stuttgart, Mannheim, Mainz, Frankfurt, Brussels, Paris, London (where they spent 15 months); and they returned through The Hague, Amsterdam, Paris, Lyon, and Switzerland, and arrived back in Salzburg in November 1766. Mozart became acquainted with many musicians and composers, including Bach who remained an important influence to him. During the trip, Mozart composed many of his early works ranging from KV 8 to KV 33b, including 5 symphonies.

-1767 Ability to Compose in a Wide Variety of Styles (11)

In September 1767, the Mozarts went to Vienna for 15 months. Mozart wrote a one-act singspiel (German light opera), Bastian und Bastienne. At age 12, Mozart wrote La finta Semplice, an opera buffa in three acts. It was performed in 1769 in the archbishop’s palace in Salzburg. In October that year he was appointed an honorary Konzertmeister (concertmaster or First Chair) at the Salzburg court. At the age of 13, Mozart was already able to imitate the musical dialects of different places. His pieces produced in London, The Hague, and Vienna all show a reflection of the music he encountered.

-1769 First Italian Tour (13)

Leopold took Mozart on the first tour in December, 1769. They stopped at main musical centers and whenever there was a chance to play a noble household. After passing a test of his ability with dramatic music, he was commissioned to write the first opera for the carnival season in Milan. While in Rome for Holy Week, Mozart heard the Sistine Choir’s exclusive Miserere of Gregorio Allegri, and copied it out by memory. His new opera, Mitridate, rè di Ponto, premiered in Milan on December 26th, 1770 was a big success.

-1771 Second Italian Tour (15)

By the time the first tour was over, plans for the second had been laid out. He was commissioned to compose a serenata for a royal wedding in July, and another opera for the next carnival season. His opera Ascanio in Alba was premiered during this tour. Though Leopold hoped for Mozart to attain an appointment in Milan, this hope was failed. Schrattenbach, the sympathetic archbishop, who allowed them many leaves of absence, died in late 1771.

-1772 Last Italian Tour (16)

On December 26th, Lucio Silla, the new opera, was premiered. It was extremely successful and had 26 performances. Apart from operas or songs, he also composed several symphonies, six string quartets, and three divertimentos.