Mozart
Probably the greatest genius in Western musical history, Wolfgang Amadeus was born in Salzburg, Austria, Jan. 27, 1756, the son of Leopold and his wife, Anna Maria Pertl. Leopold was a successful composer and violinist and assistant concertmaster at the Salzburg court, whose archbishop, Sigismund von Schrattenbach, encouraged the activities of Leopold and his remarkable children.
Wolfgang began composing minuets at the age of 5 and symphonies at 9. When he was 6, he and his older sister, Maria Anna, embarked on a series of concert tours to Europe's courts and major cities. Both children played the keyboard, but Wolfgang became a violin virtuoso as well.
In 1762 the Mozart ...
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1768 he composed his first opera, La Finta Semplice, for Vienna, but intrigues prevented its performance, and it was first presented a year later at Salzburg. In 1769-70, Leopold and Wolfgang undertook a tour through Italy. This first Italian trip culminated in a new opera, Mitridate, re di Ponto, composed for Milan. In two further Italian journeys he wrote two more operas for Milan, Ascanio in Alba (1771) and Lucio Silla (1772).
In 1772, Archbishop von Schrattenbach died, to be succeeded by Hieronymus von Colloredo. The latter, at first sympathetic to the Mozarts, later became irritated by Wolfgang's prolonged absences and stubborn ways. In 1772, von Colloredo retained Wolfgang as concertmaster at a token salary. In this capacity Mozart composed a large number of sacred and secular works. Wishing to secure a better position outside Salzburg, he obtained permission to undertake another journey in 1777. With his mother he traveled to France, where he composed the Paris Symphony ...
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Mozart. (2005, May 14). Retrieved November 28, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Mozart/26901
"Mozart." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 14 May. 2005. Web. 28 Nov. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Mozart/26901>
"Mozart." Essayworld.com. May 14, 2005. Accessed November 28, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Mozart/26901.
"Mozart." Essayworld.com. May 14, 2005. Accessed November 28, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Mozart/26901.
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