Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - a prominent representative of the Vienna classical school. He masterfully mastered various musical forms of his time, had a unique ear and a rare talent as an improviser. In a word, genius. And there are usually a lot of rumors and speculations surrounding the life and death of a genius. The composer passed away at the age of thirty-five. His early death became the subject of controversy, formed the basis of plots literary works. How did Mozart die? What caused his sudden death? And where is Mozart buried?
The composer, whose biography has been of interest to researchers around the world for more than two centuries, died in 1791. It is customary to begin biographies of outstanding people at birth. But Mozart’s biography is so extensive that any of the periods is worthy close attention. This article will focus, first of all, on how Mozart died. There is a lot of speculation. But according to the official version, the cause of death was a long illness. But before we begin to describe last days Mozart, his biography should be briefly outlined.
Childhood
Where was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart born? The city of the great musician’s childhood and youth is Salzburg. Amadeus's father was a violinist. Leopold Mozart dedicated his life to children. He did everything to ensure that his daughter and son received what they deserved. music education. It's musical. Both Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, whose biography is presented in our article, and his older sister Nannerl, showed unique abilities from an early age.
Leopold began teaching his daughter to play the harpsichord quite early. Wolfgang was very young at that time. But he followed his sister's lessons and repeated certain passages from musical works. Then Leopold decided that his son should definitely become a composer. Wolfgang, like his Nannerl, began performing very early. The audience was fascinated by the performance of the child prodigies.
Youth and the beginning of creativity
Since 1781, the hero of this article lived in Vienna. Haydn is a classic. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, along with these great musicians, created works that will never be forgotten. He managed to achieve such heights not only thanks to his innate talent, but also to perseverance and hard work.
How old was Mozart when he died? The composer was only thirty-five. And ten years before his death he settled in Vienna. In this short period of time, Wolfgang has transformed from a little-known musician into
The house belonged to the Webers, whose family had three unmarried daughters. One of them is Wolfgang's future wife, Constance. In the same year, when he first crossed the threshold of the Weber house, he began to create the opera “The Abduction from the Seraglio.” The work was approved by the Viennese public, but Mozart's name still had no weight in musical circles.
Glory
Soon Mozart married Constance Weber. After the wedding, his relationship with his father went wrong. Mozart Sr. was hostile towards his daughter-in-law until his last days. The peak of Wolfgang's fame was in the mid-eighties. A few years before his death, he begins to receive huge fees. The Mozarts move into a luxurious apartment, hire servants and buy a piano for crazy money at that time. The musician strikes up a friendship with Haydn, to whom he once even gives a collection of his works.
In February 1785, the public was presented with a piano concerto in D minor. “Why did the great Mozart die in poverty?” - sometimes you can hear such a question. What is the basis for the opinion about the financial troubles of the pianist and composer? After all, in the mid-eighties, Mozart was at the peak of his fame. He was one of the wealthiest musicians in Vienna in 1787. Four years before his death, he sent his son to a very expensive and prestigious educational institution. And in the same year, the great pianist joined the Masonic lodge. But in recent years, the composer has suffered somewhat. However, it was still far from poverty.
Financial difficulties
In 1789, Wolfgang's wife fell ill. He was forced to send her to a medical resort, which shook his financial situation. A few months later, Constance began to recover. By that time, The Marriage of Figaro had already achieved considerable success. Mozart began writing works for the theater. He had written operas before. But his early works were not successful.
The last year of Mozart's life became very fruitful. He wrote a symphony in G minor and received the position of conductor. And finally, I started working on Requiem. It was ordered by a stranger who wanted to honor his wife.
Requiem
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, whose biography is surprisingly eventful, despite his early death, wrote countless works. He had many students, and during his lifetime he received good royalties from the publication of his works. Shortly before his death, he began to create his last work, “Requiem.” The work captured him so much that he stopped accepting students. In addition, his health suddenly began to deteriorate every day.
How Mozart died was told years later by relatives who witnessed the death of the great composer. Among them was the son of a musician. According to the memoirs of relatives, Mozart suddenly became so ill that he had to call a doctor. And not just any, but the best in Vienna. Indeed, the healer helped the musician. However, the improvement did not last long. Soon Mozart fell ill completely.
Acute millet fever
According to the memoirs of Sophie Weber, the musician’s sister-in-law, after his condition worsened, his relatives decided to call another doctor. The cause of Mozart's death is controversial because his symptoms were so unusual that they prevented doctors from coming to unanimous opinion regarding the diagnosis.
In recent weeks, the composer's hearing has become more acute. He suffered unbearable pain, even from touching his body to his clothes. Mozart grew weaker every day. And, in addition, his condition worsened due to imperfect medical methods. The patient was regularly bled: this therapeutic technique was considered universal in those days. The cause of Mozart's death might have been established if he had lived in the 21st century. In the eighteenth century, treatment methods were, to put it mildly, ineffective. The death certificate of the genius stated: acute millet fever.
A good part of the Viennese population suffered from this disease at that time. The doctors did not know how to treat him. Therefore, one of the doctors, having visited the dying man, concluded: he could no longer be saved.
General weakness of the body
The life and work of Mozart is the topic of many books, fiction and documentaries. His rare gift was discovered at an early age. But besides unique abilities, Mozart, contrary to popular belief, had extraordinary hard work. Much has been said today about how Mozart died. There is a version that the great musician was poisoned by the envious Salieri. But the composer's contemporaries thought differently.
After Mozart's death, some doctors claimed that he died from a serious infectious disease. His body was unable to fight as a result of general weakness. And Mozart was physically weakened due to many years of work without break or rest.
Over the years, it has become increasingly difficult for researchers to diagnose a musician. There are many contradictions in the records of Sophie Weber and other relatives. It was these circumstances that gave rise to a lot of versions about the death of Amadeus Mozart. Let's look at each of them.
Salieri
The version that Mozart died at the hands of an envious person is the most common. And it was precisely this that formed the basis of Pushkin’s tragedy. According to this version, Mozart's life and work were surrounded by idleness. Nature allegedly endowed the musician with such talent that no effort was required. Mozart managed everything playfully and easily. And Salieri, on the contrary, with all his efforts was not able to achieve even a pathetic fraction of what Mozart could do.
Pushkin's work is based on fiction. But many readers today do not distinguish the author’s fantasies from confirmed facts. Pushkin's characters argue that genius and evil are incompatible concepts. In the work of the Russian writer, Salieri stirs poison for Mozart because he does not agree with him. He believes that he is sacrificing an idle but gifted composer to art.
The opinion that Salieri is a murderer is considered to be one of the versions also because at the beginning of the nineteenth century, his confession was found in one of the church archives, in which he confessed and repented of his crime. There are no confirmed facts that this document actually existed. However, even today, many admirers of Mozart’s work are confident that the genius became a victim of the envy of a “colleague.”
Constance
There is another version of poisoning. Her adherents believe that Mozart was sent to the next world by his wife. And one of the musician’s students helped her with this. If you believe the rumors, the passionate romance between Constance and Züssmayr was accompanied by a showdown and extremely emotional reconciliations. The beloved of Mozart's wife was a very ambitious man, if not a careerist. And he could well have entered into a love affair with Constance solely in order to harass his great teacher. But why did Süssmayr need to get rid of Mozart? What would his death give him?
In addition, this version is less plausible due to the fact that after the musician’s death his diary was preserved. And it is evidence of the deepest devotion and love that reigned in the Mozart family.
Ritual murder
And finally latest version. If we take into account only those that talk about violent death, then this one is perhaps the most plausible. As already said, great musician consisted of Masonic lodge. Masons, as a rule, help their “brothers”. But they did not help Mozart when he was experiencing severe financial difficulties. They even ignored the death of the composer, without canceling the next meeting as a sign of mourning.
Some researchers believe that the reason for the murder was Mozart's intention to create his own lodge. In one of latest works- “The Magic Flute” - Masonic symbolism is used. It was not customary to demonstrate something like this to the uninitiated. Perhaps Mozart was killed by his Masonic brothers.
Burial
It is known where Mozart is buried. At St. Mark's Cemetery. The date of burial remains controversial. According to the official version - December 6. It is widely believed that Mozart was buried in mass grave, intended for the poor. But, according to historians, the burial took place according to the third category. It was not a beggar’s funeral, but it was not a magnificent farewell ceremony for a great composer, pianist, and teacher. As often happens, true fame for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart came after his death.
GENIUS AND WONDERKIND WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
Mozart managed to conquer all the musical heights that were available at that time, but this did not bring him success during his lifetime. Unfortunately, only a few contemporaries were able to appreciate the full depth of his talent, and he was worthy of the highest degree of fame.
Perhaps the genius was unlucky with the era in which he lived, but who knows whether we would be enjoying his works now if he had been born in another time or in another place.
Little talent
The future musical prodigy was born into the family of assistant bandmaster Leopold Mozart and his wife Anna Maria in 1756 in Salzburg. The mother could not recover for a long time after giving birth; the birth of her son almost cost her her life. The next day the boy was baptized and named Johann Chrysostom Wolfgang Theophilus. The Mozarts had seven children, but five died in early childhood, survived by his older sister Maria-Anna and Wolfgang.
Father Mozart was a talented musician and an excellent teacher, whose work for many years was teaching aids. Extraordinary 
musical abilities His daughter also began to show. The three-year-old's father and sister's practice on the clavier were incredibly interesting. Wolfgang– he could sit for hours and select thirds on the instrument, enjoying the search for the right consonances. A year later, Leopold began to learn small pieces with his son, and then he himself began to compose short melodies, but the child was not yet able to write down his efforts in a notebook.
At first Wolfgang asked his father to record his creations, and once he himself tried to convey the music he composed with notes that were mixed with blots. The father discovered these samples of the pen and asked what the child had drawn. The boy confidently declared that this was a clavier concert. Leopold was surprised to find notes among the ink stains and was delighted when he realized that his son had written down the invented music correctly and according to all the rules. The father praised his child, but said that it was almost impossible to perform such a difficult piece. The boy objected, noting that you need to practice well, then everything will work out. After some time, he managed to play this concert.
Wolfgang Mozart's first tour
The children of Mozart the father were unusually talented, so Leopold tried to demonstrate this to the world. He organized a real European tour at the beginning of 1762, 
during which the family visited capitals and major cities, where children played even in front of the highest public - emperors and dukes. Small Wolfgang It was as if he was in a fairy tale - he attended receptions in palaces and social salons, communicated with outstanding people of his era, won praise and invariably heard a storm of applause addressed to him. But this required daily work from the child; not every adult could withstand such a busy schedule.
The Wonder Boy, according to the reviews of those for whom he played, flawlessly performed the most complex pieces and spent hours improvising, while observing the strict rules of art. His knowledge was higher than that of many experienced musicians.
Despite the rotation in the circles of nobles, Wolfgang Mozart retained childlike spontaneity, openness and lightness. He did not write moody music and was not an introverted genius. There are a lot of funny stories and funny incidents associated with him.
Miracle of the 18th century
The Mozarts lived in London more than a year, Where Wolfgang met his son, Johann Christian, with whom he improvised and played 
four hands. Then the family spent almost another year in different cities in Holland. During this period, a musical treasury Mozart was replenished with a symphony, six sonatas and a collection of capriccios.
The program of his performances always amazed listeners with its complexity and diversity. His virtuoso playing on the violin, harpsichord and organ fascinated the public, who nicknamed the boy “The Miracle of the Century.” Then he truly conquered Europe. After a long and grueling journey, the family returned to their native Salzburg in 1766.
Father didn't give Wolfgang relax and began to work intensively with him on composition and rehearsals concert programs for new performances 
consolidate success. He wanted to make his son not just famous, but also wealthy, so that he would not depend on the whims of powerful people.
Mozart began to receive orders for works. For the Vienna theater he wrote “The Imaginary Simpleton,” having successfully mastered the new complex genre. But for some reason on stage comic opera didn't install. This failure Wolfgang suffered very hard.
These were the first manifestations of the rivals’ ill will towards their 12-year-old colleague, because now he was not just a miracle child, but a serious and famous composer. It was easy to fade in the rays of his glory.
Young academician Wolfgang Mozart
Then Leopold decided to take his son to the homeland of operas - Italy. Three years old Mozart Milan, Florence, Rome, Venice and Naples applauded. His performances attracted huge crowds of fans, he played the organ in cathedrals and churches, and was a conductor and singer.
And here is the long-awaited order from the Milan Opera House. In six months, he wrote the opera “Mithridates, King of Pontus,” which sold out 26 times in a row. He was commissioned for several more works, including the opera Lucius Sulla. 
Brilliant memory and fantastic hearing Mozart amazed sophisticated music connoisseurs - the Italians. One day he heard in Sistine Chapel a polyphonic choral work, came home and recorded it in full. It turned out that only the church owned the notes; it was strictly forbidden to take them out or copy them, and Mozart I just did it from memory.
The election sparked even more public discussion Wolfgang member of the Bologna Academy at such a young age. This happened for the first time in the history of the famous institution.
Such successes Mozart in Italy gave hope for the fulfillment of his father's dream. He was sure that now his son would not be an ordinary provincial musician, but finding work in Italy for the young Mozart failed. Important people did not recognize him as a genius in time, and he returned to his homeland.
In disgrace with the count
Salzburg met the famous family very unfriendly. The new count appointed Wolfgang Mozart conductor of his court orchestra, demanded full 
submission and tried in every possible way to humiliate him. Servant position Mozart didn’t suit him, he didn’t want to write exclusively church music and short entertaining works. Wolfgang dreamed of serious work - composing operas.
With great difficulty he managed to get a vacation with his mother Mozart went to Paris to try his luck in the place where he was admired as a child. To a talented musician, who already had almost three hundred works of different genres under his belt, there was no place in the capital of France - no orders or concerts followed. I had to earn a living by teaching music, but this was barely enough to pay for a modest hotel room. With mother Wolfgang she had an attack in Paris and died. A series of failures and this tragedy forced him to return to Salzburg.
There the count began humiliation with new enthusiasm Mozart- did not allow him to organize concerts, forced him to dine with the servants at a time when his opera “Idomeneo, King of Crete” was successfully performed on the stage of the Munich Theater.
Deliverance from slavery
Mozart made a firm decision to end such service and submitted his resignation. Neither the first nor the second time it was signed, moreover, a stream of insults poured down on the composer. Wolfgang I almost lost my mind from such injustice. But he gathered his strength and left forever hometown, settling in Vienna in 1781.
At 26 years old Wolfgang married Constance Weber against the wishes of the bride's father and mother, but 
the newlyweds were happy. Then Mozart commissioned to write a comic opera “The Abduction from the Seraglio”. He dreamed of composing an opera in his native language, especially since the work was excellently received by the audience, only the emperor considered it too complicated.
The success of this opera helped the composer meet famous philanthropists and musicians, including s, to whom he dedicated six quartets. Only Haydn was able to understand and appreciate the depth of talent Wolfgang.
The public greeted it enthusiastically in 1786 and new opera Mozart- “The Marriage of Figaro.” However, the success did not last long. The emperor and the entire court constantly showed their dissatisfaction with the composer's innovations, and this also affected the public's attitude towards his works. But Figaro’s aria sounded in all the restaurants, parks and streets of Vienna, it was popular recognition. In his own words, he wrote music for ears of varying lengths.
Requiem
Difficult times of lack of money again came in the composer’s life. Funds came only from Prague, where his “Le nozze di Figaro” was included in the theater’s repertoire. Creativity was loved and appreciated in this city Mozart, and there he enjoyed working on Don Juan, which premiered in the fall of 1787.
The return to Vienna again brought disappointment and financial need, but there Wolfgang wrote the last three symphonies - E-flat major, G 
minor and C major, which are considered the greatest. In addition, shortly before his death Mozart The premiere of his opera “The Magic Flute” took place.
In parallel with his work on this opera, he was in a hurry to complete the order for the Requiem. Shortly before this, an unknown man in a black robe came to him and ordered a funeral mass. Mozart was depressed and depressed after this visit. Perhaps his long-standing ill health simply coincided with this event, but he himself Wolfgang took the Requiem as a prophecy own death. Finish the mass Mozart did not have time (this was later done by his student Franz Xaver Süssmayer), he died on the night of 1791. There are still rumors about the reasons for his premature death, like any other famous person. The most famous myth says that he was poisoned by the composer Salieri. There has never been any evidence of this.
Because the family has money Mozart he was not, he was buried without any honors, and even in a common grave, so no one knows the exact place of his burial.
FACTS
A strange visitor Mozart, who ordered him the Requiem, 
was a servant of Count Walsegg-Stuppach, who often bought works from poor composers for next to nothing and passed them off as his own creations.
Youngest son Mozart Franz Xaver in early XIX century, he lived and worked in Lvov for twenty years. He taught music to the children of noble Galician families and was one of the founders of the first musical society Lvov called "Cecilia". It was on its basis that the Lviv Philharmonic was subsequently organized. And in 1826, violinist Lipinsky and the choir under the direction of Franz Xaver even gave a memorial concert in the city Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Updated: July 29, 2017 by: Elena
Of all the representatives of the Vienna Classical School, Mozart is the most unique. His talent manifested itself in early childhood and developed until unexpected death. The Austrian composer created more than 600 works, played masterfully, worked in various musical forms. His ability to play from the age of four and his early death became the subject of much controversy and became overgrown with myths. Biography of Mozart, summary whose life and work is divided into sections, presented in the article.
Early years
He was born on January 27, 1756 in the family of the violinist and composer Leopold Mozart. His hometown was Salzburg, where his parents were considered the most beautiful married couple. The mother, Anna Maria Mozart, gave birth to seven children, of whom two survived - daughter Maria Anna and Wolfgang.
The boy's ability for music manifested itself from the age of three. He loved to play the harpsichord and could spend a long time selecting harmonies. The father began studying with the boy at the age of four, since he had a pronounced ability to remember melodies he heard and play them on the harpsichord. This is how Mozart’s musical biography began, about which it is difficult to write briefly, it is so rich in events.
By the age of five, Mozart could compose short plays. My father wrote them down on paper, putting the date of creation in the margins. In addition to the harpsichord, Wolfgang learned to play the violin. The only instrument that terrified the young musician was the trumpet. He could not listen to its sound without the accompaniment of other instruments.
Wolfgang was not the only one in the Mozart family to play masterfully. His sister was no less talented. They gave their first concerts together and delighted the audience. In Vienna they were presented to Empress Maria Theresa, who listened to their concert for several hours.
With their father, they traveled around Europe, giving concerts to noble nobles. Only on short time they were returning home.
Vienna period
After a misunderstanding with his employer, the Archbishop of Salzburg, Amadeus Mozart, short biography presented in this article, decides to change his life and goes to Vienna. He arrived in the city on March 16, 1781. The timing was unfortunate to begin his career in Vienna. Most aristocrats went out of town for the summer, and practically no concerts were held.
Mozart hoped to become the teacher of Princess Elisabeth, whose education was carried out by Joseph II. But all attempts ended in failure. Instead, Joseph II chose Salieri and Zummer. However, Wolfgang had enough students, although less noble ones. One of them was Teresa von Trattner, who is considered his lover. The composer dedicated a sonata in C minor and a fantasy in C minor to her.
After much anticipation and obstacles, Mozart married Constance Weber. They had six children, but only two of them survived. It was the connection with Constance that spoiled the musician’s relationship with his father, whom he loved from birth. A biography of Mozart, summarized, is impossible without a version of his death.
Last year of life
In 1791, Mozart was commissioned to “Requiem,” which he never completed. This was done by his student Franz Xaver Süssmayer. In November, the composer became very ill, he could not walk, and he needed the help of doctors.
They diagnosed him with acute millet fever. Many Viennese residents died from it at that time. The disease was complicated by a general weakening of the body.
By December 4, the composer's condition became critical. Mozart died on December 5th. The (short) biography of the composer, who left many beautiful works to his descendants, ends here.
The funeral took place on December 6, 1791, in the presence of only close friends. His body was then taken to the cemetery for burial. Where it is located is unknown, but presumably the “Weeping Angel” monument was erected at that place over time.
The Legend of Mozart's Poisoning
Many works describe the myth of Wolfgang's poisoning by his friend and famous composer Salieri. Some musicologists still support this version of death. However, there is no conclusive evidence. At the end of the last century, Antonio Salieri was acquitted in the Palace of Justice (Milan) on charges of murdering Wolfgang Mozart.
Biography of Mozart: briefly about creativity
Mozart's works combine strict and clear forms with deep emotionality. His works are poetic and carry subtle grace, while they are not devoid of masculinity, drama, and contrast.
He is known for his reformist approach to opera. It is their novelty that captivates both the opera and the biography of Mozart, a brief summary of which begins at the age of three. There are no clearly expressed negative or positive characters. Their characters are multifaceted. The most famous operas:
- "Don Juan";
- "The Marriage of Figaro";
- "The Magic Flute".
IN symphonic music Mozart (the biography, short but informative, probably allowed you to learn a lot of new things about this composer) was distinguished by the presence of melodiousness in operatic arias and the dramatic nature of conflicts. Symphonies numbered 39, 40, 41 are considered popular.
According to Kechel's thematic catalogue, Mozart created:
- spiritual creations - 68;
- string quartets - 32;
- sonatas (variations) for harpsichord and violin - 45;
- theatrical works - 23;
- sonatas for harpsichord - 22;
- symphonies - 50;
- concerts - 55.
Mozart's Hobbies
Most of all, the composer loved to be in a cheerful company. He happily attended balls, masquerades, and hosted receptions. He often danced at balls.
Like his other peers, Wolfgang Mozart, whose brief biography we have described, played billiards well. At home he had his own table, which was a special luxury at that time. He often played with his friends and wife.
He liked canaries and starlings as pets, which he willingly kept. In addition, he had dogs and even horses. On the doctor's recommendation, he took early horseback rides every day.
The biography of Mozart briefly told about the fate of the genius, who did not live long, but made an invaluable contribution to musical art all over the world.
Mozart's childhood years are amazing and interesting. The prodigy’s bright, extraordinary talent and enormous work yielded absolutely amazing, one-of-a-kind results. For my short life(Mozart lived only 35 years) he made a huge contribution to world culture, creating many brilliant works in many musical genres.
Mozart's music is still heard in concerts today. opera houses, on the radio, on the Internet and even in mobile phones, they call him best composer of all times and peoples.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in ancient, beautiful city Salzburg in 1756.
Mozart's father was an educated and serious musician. Leopold Mozart played the violin, organ, led an orchestra, a church choir, and wrote music. In addition, he was an excellent teacher. Having discovered his son’s talent, he immediately began to study with him.
W.A.Mozart Lullaby
Young Mozart began studying music very early. Already at the age of three, Wolfgang could play his tiny violin for a long time, found consonant intervals on the harpsichord and rejoiced at their euphony. For four years, he repeated small pieces after his older sister Anna-Maria, also a gifted musician, instantly memorizing them. At the age of four, Wolfgang tries to compose a harpsichord concerto. Possessing natural finger dexterity, which he continuously developed, by the age of six the little musician was performing complex virtuoso works.
Parents did not have to beg their son to sit down at the instrument. On the contrary, they tried to persuade him to stop studying so that he would not become overworked.
V.A. Mozart Turkish March from Sonata in A major
During the same time, already without the help of his father, the boy mastered playing the violin and organ. The father and his friends never ceased to be amazed at such an incredibly rapid development of the child.
Wanting to make the life of his children more interesting and prosperous than his own, Leopold Mozart decides to take the boy and his talented sister on a concert trip. A six-year-old musician sets out to conquer the world.
First concert trip.
In the early 60s of the 18th century, posters appeared in several small towns in Germany inviting music lovers and musicians to concerts of the wonderful children of L. Mozart.
These posters talked about Wolfgang Mozart:
the little virtuoso will perform a concert piece on the violin,
will accompany on the keyboard covered with a scarf,
will perform several fugues and preludes,
he will name the tones and chords played on various instruments, as well as
guess them in the sound of a whistle, the ringing of spurs and similar sounds.
After this he will begin to improvise on the harpsichord, organ and wing.
This has never happened before in the history of music. The boy was 7 years old.
Concerts little Mozart, where he performed together with his sister Anna-Maria, invariably caused a storm of delight, surprise and admiration. The children were showered with gifts. Wolfgang's program was striking in its diversity and difficulty. The little virtuoso played the harpsichord alone and four hands with his sister. He performed equally complex works on the violin and organ. He improvised on a given melody and accompanied singers with works unfamiliar to him.
The public's favorite pastime was testing his exquisite hearing. Wolfgang caught the difference between intervals of one-eighth of a tone and determined the pitch of a sound taken on any instrument or sounding object.
The concerts lasted four to five hours and were tiring for the child. Despite this, the father tried to continue his son's education. He introduced him to the best works He took musicians of that time to concerts, to the opera, and studied composition with him.
W.A. Mozart Sonata for violin and harpsichord
In Paris, Wolfgang wrote his first sonatas for violin and clavier, and in London, symphonies, the performance of which gave his concerts even greater fame. The little virtuoso and composer finally conquered Europe.
The Mozart family visited Munich, Vienna, and then largest cities Europe: Paris, London, and on the way back Amsterdam, The Hague, Geneva. In 1766, the famous, happy, but tired of moving, the Mozart family returned to their native Salzburg.
Mozart's childhood years after his first concert trip were not years of rest - he had to prepare for the next performances, study composition, mathematics and other subjects, and learn languages.
Life of Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - great German composer, born January 27, 1756 in Salzburg, died December 5, 1791 in Vienna.
The description of Mozart's youth is replete with details that we do not find in the biographies of other composers. His musical talent showed itself so early and so brightly that it involuntarily attracted attention. It is known, for example, according to the testimony of the court trumpeter Schachtner and Anna Maria Mozart, that at the age of four Mozart had already written a concerto and that he could not hear the sound of the trumpet without physical irritation. In 1761, as a five-year-old child, he took part in the choir during the performance of Eberlin’s “Sigismund, King of Hungary” at the University of Salzburg Liederspiel.
Portrait of Mozart. Artist I. G. Edlinger, ca. 1790
In 1762, six-year-old Mozart, with his eleven-year-old sister, went on a concert tour under the auspices of their father, first to Munich and then to Vienna. Further, there are well-known stories about how he delighted the monks of the Ips monastery with his magnificent playing of the organ, and the princesses and especially Marie Antoinette with his perfect piano playing. It is also mentioned that many wonderful poems were written in honor of the wonderful child. The success of this trip prompted my father to undertake something new the following year - to Paris. At the same time, stops were made along the way, visiting princely courts, residences, etc. In Mainz and Frankfurt they gave outstandingly successful concerts, visited Koblenz, Aachen and Brussels, and finally, on November 18, 1763, they arrived in Paris. Here they met the patronage of Baron Grimm, played at the royal court, in front of Marquise Pompadour and gave two of their own concerts with brilliant success. In Paris, four violin sonatas by the young Mozart appeared in print for the first time, two of which were dedicated to Princess Victoria of France and two to Countess Tessa. From here they went to London, where they played at the royal court and where the conductor J. C. Bach, son of Johann Sebastian, performed several Mozart pieces.
During this period of time, Mozart's art in improvisation, transposing to the most distant tunings, and accompaniment from sight was absolutely incomprehensible. In England he wrote six more violin sonatas dedicated to Queen Sophia Charlotte; Here, under his direction, the small symphonies he wrote were performed. From London they went to The Hague, at the invitation of the Princess of Nassau, to whom Mozart dedicated the next six sonatas. In Lille, Mozart became very ill almost simultaneously with his sister Marianne, and both lay in The Hague for about four months, to the great despair of their father. Upon recovery, they visited Paris again, where Grimm was delighted with Mozart’s successes, and then visited Bern, Dijon, Zurich, Ulm and Munich and, finally, after a three-year absence, at the end of November 1766 they returned to Salzburg.
Mozart. Best works
Here, as a ten-year-old boy, Mozart wrote his first oratorio (Mark the Evangelist). After a year of intense study, he went to Vienna. The smallpox epidemic forced them to move to Olmutz, which, however, did not save the children from chickenpox. Returning to Vienna, they played at the court of Emperor Joseph II, although they did not give their own concert. Having been slandered and suspected that the true author of his works was his father, the young composer refuted the slander through a brilliant public improvisation on the topics pointed out to him. At the king’s suggestion, Mozart wrote his first opera “La finta semplice” (now called “Apollo and Hyacinth”), which, due to intrigue, did not make it onto the Viennese stage, was first presented in Salzburg (1769). For 12 years, Mozart led the performance of his “Solemn Mass”, in honor of the illumination of the church of the orphanage. A year later, he was chosen as the archbishop's accompanist, shortly before his trip with his father to Italy.
This journey was triumphant: in all cities, churches and theaters where Mozart performed as a concertist (his sister was absent this time) were crowded with listeners, and tests carried out by the strictest judges, for example, Sammartini in Milan, Padre Martini in Bologna and Ballotti in Padua , went brilliantly. The Neapolitan court admired Mozart, and in Rome he received the Knight's Cross of the Golden Spur from the Pope. On his way back through Bologna, having passed the exam, he was accepted as a member of the Philharmonic Academy. Having made a stop in Milan, Mozart completed the opera Mithridates, Rex Pontus, which was commissioned from him, staged at the local theater in December 1770, after which it was performed 20 times in a row with brilliant success.
Returning to Salzburg in March 1771, Mozart wrote the oratorio “The Liberation of Betulia”, and in the fall of the same year he was again in Milan, where he wrote the serenade “Ascanius in Alba”, in honor of the marriage of Archduke Ferdinand to Princess Beatrice of Modena. This work completely eclipsed Hass's opera Ruggiero on stage. His next opera is “The Dream of Scipio,” dedicated to the successor of the deceased Archbishop of Salzburg, Count Hieronymus von Colloredo (1772). In December 1772, Mozart again visited Milan, where he staged the opera Lucius Sulla. Subsequently, he composed symphonies, masses, concertos and concert music. In 1775, the opera “The Imaginary Gardener,” commissioned from him, was staged with outstanding success in Munich. Soon after, his opera “The Shepherd King” was given in honor of the stay of Archduke Maximilian.
Despite all these successes, Mozart did not have a stable place, and his father began to think about touring again. The archbishop, however, refused leave, after which Mozart resigned. This time he went on a trip with his mother, passing through Munich, Augsburg and Mannheim, although here his artistic trip was not crowned with success. In addition, Mozart fell in love with the singer Aloise Weber in Mannheim and it was only with difficulty that they could tear him away from this passion. Finally arriving in Paris, he had artistic satisfaction after the performance of one of his symphonies at the Concert spirituel. But here he also experienced grief: his mother died (1778). Deeply upset, having not achieved his goal, he returned to Salzburg, where he was forced to again take the same place under the archbishop.
In 1779, Mozart was appointed court organist here. In 1781, according to a new order, he wrote the opera “Idomeneo”, with which the classical direction of his further works began. Soon after, he finally broke off his relationship with the archbishop and moved to Vienna. For some time, Mozart remained without a place here, until in 1789 he was appointed court composer, with a salary of 800 florins. But he had the opportunity to perform his great works, which he took advantage of. At the king’s suggestion, he wrote the vaudeville “The Abduction from the Seraglio,” and it was staged on stage by order of the king, despite the intrigues (1781). That same year, Mozart married Constance Weber, the sister of his first love.
In 1785, he created the opera The Marriage of Figaro, which, due to its poor performance by the Italians, almost failed on the Vienna stage, but was superbly performed in Prague. In 1787 his Don Giovanni appeared, staged first in Prague and then in Vienna, where the opera again met with failure. In general, in Vienna, the brilliant Mozart was haunted by misfortune and his works remained in the shadows, inferior to works of secondary importance. In 1789 Mozart left Vienna and, accompanied by Count Lichnowsky, visited Berlin, playing at court in Dresden, Leipzig and finally in Potsdam before Frederick II, who appointed him the position of first bandmaster with a salary of 3,000 thalers, but here Mozart's Austrian patriotism triumphed and became an obstacle for him to accept the proposed position. By order of the Austrian king, he composed the following opera, “This is what all (women) do” (1790). IN last year During his lifetime he wrote two operas: La Clemenza di Titus for Prague, in honor of the coronation of Leopold II (September 6, 1791) and The Magic Flute for Vienna (September 30, 1791). His last creation was a requiem, which gave rise to the well-known fantastic story about Mozart’s death due to poisoning by a rival composer Salieri. This theme inspired A. S. Pushkin to create the “little tragedy” “Mozart and Salieri”. Mozart's burial was completely miserable: he was even buried in a common grave, so that to this day the exact location of his remains is unknown. In 1859, a monument to him was erected in this cemetery (St. Mark). In 1841, a magnificent monument was erected in his honor in Salzburg.
Works of Mozart
In his amazing creativity, Mozart mastered perfectly musical means and forms. His personality always contains the charm of purity, intimacy and charm. His humor is less bright than that of Haydn, and the austere grandeur of Beethoven is completely alien to him. His style is a combination of happy Italian melodicism with German depth and positivity. Similar traits are inherent in Schubert and Mendelssohn, especially in the sense of the fertility of their creativity and the short duration of their lives. Mozart's importance as a composer is undoubtedly worldwide: in all types of music he took a major step forward and all his works are endowed with unfading beauty. The reformist spirit lived in him Gluck, which forced him to create unshakable types in the field of past and modern times. If the external musical setting of his works now forces them to be evaluated from a historical point of view, then in terms of their internal content and their inspired thoughts they are still not outdated.
According to the catalog of Breitkopf and Hertel (1870-1886), Mozart's works are divided as follows:
Church music. 15 masses, 4 litanies, 4 kyrie, 1 madrigal, 1 miserere, 1 Te Deum, 9 offertories, 1 De profundis, l motet for solo soprano, 1 four-voice motet, etc.
Stage works. 20 operas The most famous of them are: “Idomeneo”, “The Abduction from the Seraglio”, “The Marriage of Figaro”, “Don Giovanni”, “Cosi fan tutte” (“This is what all women do”), “The Mercy of Titus”, “The Magic Flute”.
Concert vocal music. 27 arias, duets, terzets, quartets, etc.
Songs (Lieder). 34 songs with piano accompaniment, 20 two- and polyphonic canons, etc.
Orchestral works. 41 symphonies, 31 divertissements, serenades, 9 marches, 25 dances, several pieces for wind and wooden instruments etc.
Concerts and solo plays with orchestra. 6 violin concertos, concertos for various individual instruments, 25 piano concertos, etc.
Chamber music. 7 bow quintets, two quintets for different instruments, 26 bow quartets, 7 piano trios, 42 violin sonatas.
For piano. For 4 hands: 5 sonatas and Andante with variations, for two pianos, one fugue and 1 sonata. In two hands: 17 sonatas, fantasy and fugue, 3 fantasies, 15 variation pieces, 35 cadenzas, several minuets, 3 rondos, etc.
For organ. 17 sonatas, mostly with two violins and cello, etc.