( * Salzburg 1756 – † Vienna 1791 )
A brief biography of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on Januar 27th, 1756 in Salzburg.
Mozart’s musical gift was discovered at an early age and intensely encouraged by his father.
While little Mozart was living in Salzburg, he composed pieces and entire Singspiele which were performed not only in Vienna, but also in Italy and his birthplace Salzburg. At the tender age of 6, Mozart was already celebrated as a child prodigy by Europe’s high nobility.
Mozart worked as a concertmaster and then as an organist of the court between 1771 and 1781.
Mozart in Vienna (1781 – 1791)
Following the great success of Opera Idomeneo in Munich, Mozart was summoned to Vienna by his employer Archbishop Colloredo. At this time, Mozart was 25 years old.
Mozart arrived at the House of Teutonic Order by stagecoach on March 17th, 1781. On the same day, he gave his first concert at the Sala Terrena. Mozart wrote in a letter to his father, “We had music at 4 o’clock. There were 20 people here, but of the highest noblesse.”
After a heated argument with his patron Colloredo, Mozart quit his job and worked thereafter as a self-employed performer and teacher.
Mozart lived in Vienna for ten years, and died in his apartment on Rauhensteingasse in 1791.