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Mozart - A True Star In The World Of Opera

by MarkWalters

Born on the 27th of January 1756 in Salzburg, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's musical roots were established from the very beginning of his life. His father Leopold was a composer of some note and also an accomplished violinist. Mozart's mother was Anna Maria Pertl and he had one sister called Anna who was born in 1951.

From the age of just 4 years old Wolfgang was showing signs of talent for music and could play the same piano pieces as his older sister. He composed his first minuet at age 5 and full symphonies at age 9. The siblings were taken on a tour of Vienna by their father in 1792 where they performed for various members of the nobility, both children played piano and Wolfgang played violin as well. In 1763 their father took them on a longer tour of Europe to play for ambassadors and nobles. Mozart was commissioned to write his first opera, Mitridate, re di Ponto at the age of 14.

Mozart's father was keen for his son to make a living from his talent as part of a nobleman's court rather than on his own as he considered this to be the more stable option, however it was difficult for Mozart to find such a position as most courts were not prepared to take on a composer so young - despite Mozart's obvious talent. Eventually Mozart found employment in his late adolescence/early twenties with the Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg. He continued to look for work elsewhere as he found life in provincial Salzburg too limiting. He was also frustrated by his father, who sabotaged any chance of romance for the young Mozart, who was keen to keep his son working to earn enough to support the whole family.

Mozart lasted in his position at the court of the Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg until 1781. He resigned after a bitter clash with the Prince-Archbishop, with his father unsurprisingly opposing his decision. The 25-year- old Mozart would not be deterred however and he moved to Vienna with the aim of working as a freelance composer and musician. Relations with his father went from bad to worse when Mozart chose to marry a poor singer Constanze Weber - a union his father was against.

Mozart stayed in Vienna for the next 9 years and spent his time composing, playing and teaching music. During this time Mozart composed some of his most famous pieces of work. Although Mozart was gaining much recognition for his work the latter part of his life was plagued with money problems and his anguish at the death of his father without reconciliation between the two. Mozart died suddenly at the age of 35 on December 5th 1791 from and unspecified febrile condition.

About the Author: Frank Cole

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Mozart - A True Star In The World Of Opera