Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has made a significant contribution to the development of world classical music. It is noteworthy that in his short life he managed to write over 600 compositions. He began writing his first compositions as a child.
Musician's childhood
He was born on January 27, 1756 in the picturesque city of Salzburg. Mozart managed to become famous all over the world. The fact is that he was brought up in a creative family. His father worked as a musician.
Mozart was brought up in a large family. Most of his brothers and sisters died at an early age. When Wolfgang was born, the doctors said that the boy would remain an orphan. During childbirth, Mozart's mother had serious complications. Doctors predicted that the woman in labor would not survive. Surprisingly, she got better.
From his youth, Mozart was actively interested in music. He saw his father playing various musical instruments. At the age of 5, the child could reproduce by ear a melody that Leopold Mozart (father) played a few minutes ago.
The head of the family, who saw the potential in his son, taught him to play the harpsichord. The boy quickly mastered the most complex melodies of plays and minuets, and soon he was tired of this occupation. Mozart began composing compositions. At the age of 6, Wolfgang mastered another musical instrument. This time it was the violin.
By the way, Mozart never attended school. Leopold taught his children at home on his own. He had an excellent educational background. Wolfgang was excellent at almost all sciences. The boy grasped everything on the fly. He had an excellent memory.
Mozart is a real nugget, because how to explain the fact that at the age of 6 he gave solo concerts. Sometimes his sister Nannerl appeared on stage with Wolfgang. She sang beautifully.
Youth
Leopold Mozart realized that children's performances make a very pleasant impression on the audience. After some thought, he went with his children on a long journey through Europe. There, Wolfgang and Nannerl performed for demanding fans of classical music.
The family did not immediately return to their historical homeland. The children's performances evoked a storm of emotions in the audience. The surname of the young musician and composer was heard by the European elite.
On the territory of Paris, the maestro created four debut sonatas. The compositions were intended for clavier and violin. While on tour in London, he took lessons from his youngest son, Bach. He confirmed the genius of Wolfgang and said that he portends a good future for him.
During an active journey through European countries, the Mozart family was very tired. In addition, the health of children and before that could not be called strong. Leopold decided to return to his native city in 1766.
The creative path of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang's father made significant efforts to make even more people aware of his son's talent. For example, as a teenager, he sent him to Italy. Local residents were impressed by the virtuoso playing of the young musician. Having visited Bologna, Wolfgang took part in original competitions with famous musicians. It is interesting that some of the composers were suitable for his fathers, but often it was Mozart who won.
The talent of the young talent impressed the Boden Academy so much that Mozart was appointed an academician. It was an unorthodox decision. Basically, this title was achieved by famous composers, whose age exceeded 20 years.
Numerous victories inspired Mozart. He felt an incredible surge of strength and vitality. He sat down to compose sonatas, operas, quartets and symphonies. Every year, not only Wolfgang matured, but also his compositions. They became even bolder and more colorful. He clearly understood that with his compositions he surpassed those whom he had previously admired. Soon the composer met Joseph Haydn. He became not only his mentor, but also a close friend.
Mozart got a highly paid job at the court of the archbishop. His father also worked there. Work in the yard was in full swing. Wolfgang delighted society with beautiful compositions. After the death of the bishop, the situation in the courtyard worsened. In 1777, Leopold Mozart asked his son to travel around Europe. For Wolfgang, this trip was very useful.
During this period of time, the Mozart family experienced some financial difficulties. Together with Wolfgang, only his mother was able to go on a trip. Mozart again began to organize concerts. Alas, they did not pass with such great excitement. The fact is that the maestro's compositions did not resemble "standard" classical music. In addition, the grown-up Mozart no longer caused awe in the audience in the soul.
The audience accepted the composer and musician coldly. This was not the saddest news. In Paris, amid severe physical burnout, his mother died. The maestro was again forced to return to Salzburg.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: The dawn of a creative career
Wolfgang Mozart, despite the genius and recognition of the public, was in poverty. Against this background, he was very dissatisfied with the way he was being treated by the new archbishop. Mozart felt that his talent was underestimated. He understood that he was being treated not as an honored musician, but as a servant.
In 1781 the maestro left the palace. He saw the misunderstanding of his relatives, but did not change his decision. Soon he moved to the territory of Vienna. Mozart did not yet know that this would be the most correct decision of the last few years of his life. And it was here that he revealed his creative potential to the maximum.
Soon the maestro met the influential baron Gottfried van Steven. He was imbued with the sensitive compositions of the composer and became his faithful patron. The baron's collection included immortal works by Bach and Handel.
The baron gave the composer good advice. From that moment on, Wolfgang worked in the Baroque style. This made it possible to enrich the repertoire with golden compositions. Interestingly, during this period of time, he taught musical notation for Princess Elisabeth of Württemberg.
In 1780, the time has come for the flourishing of the maestro's work. His collection is replenished with operas: The Marriage of Figaro, The Magic Flute, Don Giovanni. Then he was one of the most sought-after composers and musicians. His concerts were highly paid. His wallet was bursting at the seams from fees, and his soul "danced" from the warm welcome of the public.
The popularity of the maestro quickly declined. Soon the one who believed in Mozart's talent from the very beginning died. His father passed away. Then the wife of maestro Constance Weber was diagnosed with a leg ulcer. To save his wife from excruciating pain, Mozart spent a lot of money.
The position of the composer worsened after the death of Joseph II. Soon the emperor's place was taken by Leopold II. The new ruler was far from creativity, and in particular music.
Details of privacy
Constance Weber is a woman who remained in the heart of a famous composer. The maestro met a pretty girl on the territory of Vienna. Upon arrival in the city, the musician rented a house from the Weber family.
By the way, Mozart's father was against this marriage. He said that Constantia was looking for only profit in his son. The marriage ceremony took place in 1782.
The composer's wife was pregnant 6 times. She was able to bear only two children - Karl Thomas and Franz Xaver Wolfgang.
Interesting facts about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
- The gifted composer wrote his first composition at the age of 6.
- The youngest son of Mozart lived in Lviv for about 30 years.
- In London, little Wolfgang was the object of scientific research. He was recognized as a child prodigy.
- The 12-year-old composer composed the composition commissioned by the ruler of the Holy Roman Empire.
- At 28, he entered the Masonic lodge in Vienna.
last years of life
In 1790, the health of the composer's wife again deteriorated sharply. To improve his financial situation, the maestro was forced to give several concerts in Frankfurt. The performances of the musician went with a bang, but this did not make Mozart's wallet heavier.
A year later, the maestro had another creative upsurge. As a result of this, Mozart published the composition Symphony No. 40, and shortly before his death, the unfinished Requiem.
Soon the composer became very ill. He had a high fever, vomiting and chills. He died on December 5, 1791. Doctors diagnosed that death was due to rheumatic inflammatory fever.
According to some reports, the cause of the death of the famous composer was poisoning. For a long time, Antonio Salieri was blamed for Mozart's death. He was not as popular as Wolfgang. Many believed that Salieri wished him dead. But this hypothesis has not been officially confirmed.
