Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was not only one of the greatest composers of the Classical period, but one of the greatest of all time. Surprisingly, he is not identified with radical formal or harmonic innovations, or with the profound kind of symbolism heard in some of Bach's works. Mozart's best music has a natural flow and irresistible charm, and can express humor, joy or sorrow with both conviction and mastery. His operas, especially his later efforts, are brilliant examples of high art, as are many of his piano concertos and later symphonies. Even his lesser compositions and juvenile works feature much attractive and often masterful music.
Mozart was the last of seven children, of whom five did not survive early childhood. By the age of three he was playing the clavichord, and at four he began writing short compositions. Young Wolfgang gave his first public performance at the age of five at Salzburg University, and in January 1762, he performed on harpsichord for the Elector of Bavaria. There are many astonishing accounts of the young Mozart's precocity and genius. At the age of seven, for instance, he picked up a violin at a musical gathering and sight-read the second part of a work with complete accuracy, despite his never having had a violin lesson.
In the years 1763-1766, Mozart, along with his father Leopold, a composer and musician, and sister Nannerl, also a musically talented child, toured London, Paris, and other parts of Europe, giving many successful concerts and performing before royalty. The Mozart family returned to Salzburg in November 1766. The following year young Wolfgang composed his first opera, Apollo et Hyacinthus. Keyboard concertos and other major works also came from his pen.
In 1769, Mozart was appointed Konzertmeister at the Salzburg Court by the Archbishop. Beginning that same year, the Mozarts made three tours of Italy, where the young composer studied Italian opera and produced two successful efforts, Mitridate and Lucio Silla. In 1773, Mozart was back in Austria, where he spent most of the next few years composing. He wrote all his violin concertos between 1774 and 1777, as well as Masses, symphonies, and chamber works.
In 1780, Mozart wrote his opera Idomeneo, which became a sensation in Munich. After a conflict with the Archbishop, Mozart left his Konzertmeister post and settled in Vienna. He received a number of commissions and took on a well-paying but unimportant Court post. In 1782 Mozart married Constanze Weber and took her to Salzburg the following year to introduce her to his family. 1782 was also the year that saw his opera Die Entführung aus dem Serail staged with great success.
In 1784, Mozart joined the Freemasons, apparently embracing the teachings of that group. He would later write music for certain Masonic lodges. In the early and mid-1780s, Mozart composed many sonatas and quartets, and often appeared as soloist in the 15 piano concertos he wrote during this period. Many of his commissions were for operas now, and Mozart met them with a string of masterpieces. Le nozze di Figaro came 1786, Don Giovanni in 1787, Così fan tutte in 1790, and Die Zauberflöte in 1791. Mozart made a number of trips in his last years, and while his health had been fragile in previous times, he displayed no serious condition or illness until he developed a fever of unknown origin near the end of 1791.
© Robert Cummings /TiVo
Artistas similares
-
Mozart Evolution: 100 Chronological Masterpieces
Clásica - Editado por Cobra Entertainment LLC el 25 nov. 2016
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Concertos for flute and orchestra
Alexis Kossenko, Stephan MacLeod, Gli Angeli Genève
Música concertante - Editado por Claves Records el 7 oct. 2022
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Complete Piano Trios 1756-1791
Clásica - Editado por Analekta el 21 feb. 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Les 50 Trésors de Mozart - Les Trésors de la Musique Classique
Clásica - Editado por Sony Classical - Sony Music el 9 may. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Violin Concertos 1-5
Música concertante - Editado por Onyx Classics el 20 ene. 2017
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart Piano Sonatas Vol. 4 - Wigmore Hall Live
Clásica - Editado por Wigmore Hall Live el 2 oct. 2015
Gramophone Editor's Choice24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Zaide
Ópera - Editado por Signum Records el 16 sep. 2016
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: The Complete String Quartets
Música de cámara - Editado por Musical Heritage Society el 1 jun. 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
The History of Mozart (100 Famous Songs)
Clásica - Editado por Dream Collection el 7 abr. 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, The Marriage Of Figaro, K. 492
Clásica - Editado por Classical.com Music el 16 feb. 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Violin Concertos, Vol. II (Live)
Handel and Haydn Society, Aisslinn Nosky
Clásica - Editado por CORO el 6 oct. 2023
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
-
Mozart: Piano Sonatas Nos. 12 & 13
Ingrid Haebler, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Clásica - Editado por Denon el 1 ene. 1987
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart Piano Sonatas Vol. 3 - Wigmore Hall Live
Clásica - Editado por Wigmore Hall Live el 4 may. 2015
Gramophone Editor's Choice16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Complete Violin Concertos, Sinfonia Concertante
Música concertante - Editado por Avie Records el 13 ene. 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 2 (Wigmore Hall Live)
Clásica - Editado por Wigmore Hall Live el 29 sep. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Requiem (version quatuor à cordes)
Clásica - Editado por Challenge Classics el 1 ene. 2003
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Brendel - Mozart - Concerto For Two Pianos And Orchestra - Sonata For Two Pianos
Alfred Brendel, Walter Klien, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Clásica - Editado por Denon el 1 ene. 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Prussian String Quartets
Clásica - Editado por Lawo Classics el 7 abr. 2017
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart - Symphonies No. 25 and 40
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Yoly Yolev, Renaissance Symphony Orchestra
Clásica - Editado por Yo Music el 1 ene. 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo