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Mozart's birth
Mozart was born in Salzburg, located in today's Austria, which was part of the Holy Roman Empire. He had 6 older siblings, five of which died in infancy, leaving him and his sister, Maria Anna Mozart. -
The child prodigy
When Mozart was only three years old, he took interest in the keyboard lessons his sister took from their father, and started experimenting with the clavier, spending a great amount of time doing so. At the age of four he was taught a few minuets and pieces at the clavier, which he could play faultlessly with perfect timing. A year later, he had already composed a number of small pieces so he can play them to his father. -
Early years
Mozart's family made several journeys around Europe in which he and his sister performed as child prodigies. After an exhibition in Munich, Vienna and Prague, they went on an almost 4 year long concert tour, where he met many musicians and got familiarized with the works of other composers. At the age of 8, he wrote his first symphony. Later, in 1773 he was employed as a court musician by the ruler of Salzburg, which he got the opportunity to wrok in many music genres. He resigned later in 1777. -
Mozart in Paris
Mozart looked for employment in Augsburg, Mannhelm, Munich, and later Paris, but to no avail. He fell into debt and resorted to pawning off valuables. His mother fell ill and died on July 3 1778 due to a lack of funds for a doctor. Mozart was offered a post as a court organist and concertmaster in Salzburg, which he was reluctant to accept, however, out of need, he returned to Salzburg. -
Vienna
In 1781, Mozart was summoned to Vienna by his employer, Archbishop Colloredo. Despite already having a great career, he envisioned a much greater one, and soon met the emperor who supported his career. Mozart started performing outside of his the archbishop's establishment, who also often prevented him from doing so. This led to a quarell, which ended with him getting dismissed, freeing himself of their demands. He settled in Vienna, where he began his new career. -
A new career
In Vienna, Mozart performed as a pianist, where he was soon known as the finest keyboard player in there. He also composed successful work which was performed throught Europe, which established his reputation. -
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Mozart's last years before his ilness
Mozart continued to live rather comfortably in the early years of this timespan, composing music of many genres, but later on declined because of the aristocracy's inability to support music due to the Austro-Turkish war. He had to borrow money to make ends meet, and later fell into depression, slowing his musical output. Around this time, he travelled a lot in hopes of improving his fortune. In his last year, 1971, he composed some of his most admired works, and started paying back his loans. -
Marriage
In the 4th of August in 1782, Mozart got married to Costanze Weber. They had six children, of whom four died of infancy. The ones that survived were Karl Thomas Mozart and Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart -
Final months
While on a premiere of his opera La clemenzo di Tito, Mozart fell ill in Prague on the 6th of September in 1791. He continued his professional functions, and on the 20th of November his health deterioated severely, where he became bedridden, suffering from illness. In his final days he was nursed by his wife, her younger sister and attended by the family doctor. -
Mozart's death
On the 5th of December in 1791, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart succumbed to his illness. His funeral was modest despite his high standing with the public as a composer. Memorial services were held and well-attended, and his reputation increased considerably right after his death. -
Requiem
Mozart's last work, Requiem, had been anonymously commissioned, and the name refers to the masses held by the Roman Catholic Church to give rest to the souls of the dead. He composed it on his deathbed, believing he had been cursed to write his own requiem as his final work before death. It was left incomplete at the time of his death, and was later finished by his student, Franz Xaver Sussmayr.