Thursday, May 26, 2011

Wolfgang Mozart Short Biography

Mozart was one of the most appreciated, prominent musical maestros ever happened to live.      
Musical genius Mozart was born on 27 January 1756 in Salzburg, Australia to Leopold Mozart
who was a business-minded composer, violinist and an assistant concertmaster at the Salzburg
court and Anna Maria Pertl. He was named Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Gottlieb
Mozart in honor of his grandfather (maternal) and a Saint Johannes Chrysostomus with whom
he shared his birth date.

Being born and brought up in a family where music was in air, in life, in dreams of everyone,
Mozart was highly attracted towards music. From his childhood, Wolffanfus learned and
developed immense interest in music. When he was just 5 years old, he started composing
small and beautiful melodious numbers. Looking at his children's musical talent, Mozart's father decided to use this
opportunity to present the talent of his children (Wolfgangus and elder daughter Maria Anna "Nannerl") in front of the
world. At the age of six years (in mid 1763), Mozart and his elder sister performed many concerts in European Courts (In
Paris and London); they also gave performance at major cities where they met connoisseur and lovers of music. They
also performed in front of the Bavarian elector, royal families and the Austrian empress. Wolfgangus and his sister played
piano and violin and were more than successful to tie their audiences to the chairs.

Soon, Wolfgangus wrote and published his first composition and when he was nine years old he started writing
symphonies. Demand for his music show started increasing so much that only nine months after coming back from his
tour in 1766, the Mozart family again set for yet another tour of Vienna. However, due to some problems Mozart could not
perform in an opera in Vienna.

After coming from the tour of Vienna, Wolfgangus tried to concentrate on improving and learning new skills in music, for
this he did not plan any tour till 1770. In next three years from 1770 to 1773, Mozart toured Italy three times and gave
many performances. While on tour of Italy, Mozart even wrote two of his famous operas 'Mitridate' and 'Lucio Silla'.
Mozart displayed his talent of music and astonished his audience when he adopted Italian style in his music. Mozart
further started his journey of music composition, he wrote set of string quartet, some symphonies. When Mozart was at
Salzburg during the period from 1774 to 1777, he worked as Konzertmeister (Concert Master) at the Prince Archbishop's
Court where he performed in some Piano and Violin concerts (about half a dozen piano sonatas), masses, symphonies
etc. During this period, he visited Munich once in 1775 for a premier of his Opera La Finta giardiniera.

Wolfgangus was very hungry to attain a very high position in the world of music, he knew that staying in Salzburg it was
never possible to achieve what he wanted, in 1777 Mozart left Salzburg with his mother and set for Munich and
Mannheim. There he tried his best to find a good post for himself but was never offered one, he then moved to Paris in
search of the same. In Paris, Anna Maria (Wolfgangus's mother) died and Wolfgangus became very lonely, here also
Wolfgangus could not get any suitable post for himself. After Wolfgangus's all the unsuccessful trials, Leopold called him
back to Salzburg, where he had made an arranged a high level post for his son. For next two years, Wolfgangus, worked
at Court and played concerts at Court and Cathedral. He actively participated in concerts, serenades and gave music to
dramas. He also continued composing and creating symphonies. In 1780 he received his most awaited opportunity to
perform in an opera at Munich.

Along with many concerts, operas and music composition for dramas, Mozart also wrote beautiful music compositions,
which have become masterpiece of his artwork. Mozart further was sent to the court at Vienna where he was not allowed
to work at the post he wanted the most, he finally gave up trying to perform at the court in Vienna and got out of the job
around 1781. After that, Mozart got many golden opportunities to make fortune when he created music while he was not
at any post. Soon, Mozart started going in public, he played music in public functions, published his work and also started
teaching music. Further in 1787, Mozart was offered a minor court post as Kammermusicus, where he wrote dance music
for court balls. In year 1782, Mozart married Constanze Weber (younger sister of Aloysia Weber, who was his former
lover).

Mozart had gained a reasonable popularity by publishing some beautiful sonatas (for violin and piano), music
compositions, by performing in concerts and Operas like 'Die Entfuhrun aus dem Serail' (in 1782, and was one of his most
successful operas with many songs in it. NOTE: Mozart wrote serious as well as comic operas (he wrote three comic
operas in his life), he also wrote some quartets, which he had dedicated to his Haydn who appreciated Mozart for his
knowledge of music and talent to compose. Mozart had also gained popularity by managing concerts on his own, without
any assistance he not only composed music for the concert but he also managed the orchestra. Mozart earned enough to
live a comfortable life, but because of his improper management of money and expenses, he was never able to save
money for future and always had to borrow from others when was in need of money.

Mozart spent rest of his life in Vienna; during this period he also visited various places such as Salzburg, Berlin etc. to
perform in operas, dramas and concerts. Mozart died on 5 December 1791 in Vienna. (There are different stories
regarding the death of musical genius, according to one story he died of the feverish illness (Rheumatic Fever) and
according to another he died of poisoning).

Mozart composed hundreds of beautiful and unique music works which include over 20 operas, about 14-15 Masses, about 30-40 concerts (piano and violin), about 50-60 symphonies, about 20 sonata etc. Even after his death, Mozart remained and will remain one of the most favorite musicians for millions of his fans.

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