Now free of both Colloredo and his father, Mozart pursued a career in the capital and soon established himself as “the finest keyboard player in Vienna”. I would be so happy if I could whip through my opera for him and then play a fugue or two, for that’s what he likes.” Mozart eventually attained the goal, despite Colloredo’s attempts to drag him back to Salzburg. Colloredo wished to show off the talents of his concertmaster, but Mozart aimed “to meet the emperor in some agreeable fashion, I am absolutely determined he should get to know me. In 1781, the Archbishop and Mozart travelled to Vienna to witness the accession of Joseph II (1741-90) to the Austrian throne. He took up his new appointment in 1779, earning 450 florins a year. Mozart felt reluctant to return home and the job did not excite him, but with no money he had little option. Meanwhile, Mozart’s father pursued employment opportunities for his son in Salzburg, eventually regaining him a position as court organist and concertmaster to the newly styled Archbishop Colloredo. During this time, Mozart learned of his mother’s death, which added to his despair. Here, Mozart stayed with the French-journalist Melchior Grimm (1723-1807), while he pawned personal items to pay his growing debts. When both these liaisons came to nothing, Mozart left the country and headed to Paris. He hoped the orchestra in Mannheim would accept him, and he briefly had a romance with the German soprano Aloysia Weber (1760-1839). He visited Munich and Vienna in search of work but with little success.ĭetermined to find a better position, Mozart resigned from his job in Salzburg and continued to travel in search of work. Unfortunately, Mozart received very little money for his efforts and longed to find a position elsewhere. He wrote the majority of the latter between April and December 1775 before changing tune again in favour of piano concertos. Mozart composed several symphonies, sonatas and serenades for the prince, but he also developed a preference for violin concertos. In 1773, Mozart gained employment as the court musician of Prince Hieronymus von Colloredo (1732-1812) of Salzburg. The success of this opera prompted many commissions, resulting in Ascanio in Alba for Empress Maria Theresa (1717-80) and Lucio Silla, which critics considered a moderate success. The Vatican forbade anyone from sharing the transcript outside the country, but Mozart made an illegal copy of the music from memory.Īt the age of 14, Mozart wrote the opera Mitridate, re di Ponto, which told the story of Mithridates, the King of Pontus (135-63 BC). On this famous occasion, Mozart heard Miserere by Gregorio Allegri (1582-1652), a piece of music closely guarded by the Vatican City. During the trip, Mozart became a member of the Bologna Academy of Music and accepted an invitation to attend a concert at the Sistine Chapel. Leopold aimed to advertise his son’s compositions as much as his performance. In 1769, Leopold left his daughter at home while he and Mozart toured Italy until 1771. The journeys were often long and challenging for the young musicians. During the tour, Mozart composed his first symphony at the tender age of 8.Īfter the success of this first tour, the Mozart family agreed to more concerts. Bach (1735-82), who greatly influenced the young Mozart. They met with several notable musicians, including J.S. Over the next three and a half years, the siblings toured several European cities, including, Munich, Vienna, Prague, London, Dover, Paris, The Hague, Amsterdam and Zurich. Leopold also gave his children instruction in academics and language studies.Īs child prodigies, Mozart and Nannerl were exhibited across Europe, beginning with a concert for the much-beloved Prince-elector Maximilian III of Bavaria (1727-1777), in 1762. Although the young Mozart became the most famous of the two, his sister, nicknamed Nannerl, was also a proficient musician. Leopold, a German composer, conductor, and violinist, taught his children to play and write music. Of the seven children, only Mozart and his older sister, Maria Anna Mozart (1751-1829), survived infancy. Mozart was the youngest son of Leopold Mozart (1719-87) and Anna Maria, née Pertl (1720-78). As an adult, he styled himself as Wolfgang Amadè Mozart, although, at some point, the middle name evolved into “Amadeus”. His baptismal records, written shortly after his birth in Salzburg on 27th January 1756, list his name as Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart. Online biographies of Mozart tend to disagree about the birth name of the child prodigy.
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