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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) - Life, Music and Legacy

 

Portrait of Mozart in his early thirties
Portrait of Mozart around the age of thirty. Years of illness, exhaustion, and instability had already left visible traces on his face.   

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on January 27, 1756, in Salzburg, then part of the Archbishopric of Salzburg. He was one of the most influential and versatile composers of the Classical era, whose work shaped the development of symphonic, chamber, operatic, and keyboard music.

Early life and education

Mozart’s exceptional musical talent manifested at a very early age. Under the guidance of his father, Leopold Mozart—an accomplished violinist and respected pedagogue—he received systematic training in keyboard, violin, and composition. By the age of five, Mozart was already composing short pieces and performing publicly.

From 1762 onward, Leopold organized extensive concert tours across Europe, during which Mozart performed in major cultural centers and royal courts. These journeys exposed him to a wide range of musical styles and traditions, contributing significantly to his rapid artistic development. His sister, Maria Anna (“Nannerl”), herself a gifted keyboard player, often appeared alongside him.

Artistic maturity

During his adolescence and early adulthood, Mozart assimilated Italian, French, and German musical influences, gradually forging a highly personal compositional voice. His early operas, symphonies, and sacred works reveal remarkable command of form, melody, and orchestration.

In 1781, Mozart broke away from the service of the Archbishop of Salzburg and settled permanently in Vienna, pursuing a career as a freelance composer and performer. This decision marked a turning point: while it granted artistic independence, it also exposed him to financial instability.

Major works and creative peak

Mozart’s Viennese years produced many of his most significant works. These include piano concertos of exceptional balance and expressive depth, chamber music that refined Classical forms, and operas that transformed the genre through psychological insight and dramatic coherence.

His collaborations with librettists, most notably Lorenzo Da Ponte, resulted in operas that remain central to the repertoire, distinguished by their integration of music and drama. At the same time, Mozart continued to develop the symphony and string quartet, contributing decisively to their Classical maturity.

Final years

Despite periods of success, Mozart faced persistent financial difficulties in the final years of his life. Nevertheless, his creative output during this period was extraordinary. In 1791, the year of his death, he composed major works including Die Zauberflöte, the Clarinet Concerto, and the unfinished Requiem.

Mozart died in Vienna on December 5, 1791, at the age of thirty-five. His premature death ended a career of astonishing productivity, leaving a legacy that profoundly influenced Western music.

Legacy

Mozart’s music is characterized by clarity of form, melodic invention, and expressive balance. His ability to combine structural precision with emotional immediacy has ensured the lasting relevance of his work. Today, he is regarded as a central figure of the Classical era and one of the most important composers in the history of music.

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