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
Similar artists
-
Mozart: Piano Sonata Selection
Maria João Pires, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Klassiek - Released by Denon on 1 jan. 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Piano Concertos K. 413, K. 414 & K. 415
La Petite Bande, Sigiswald Kuijken
Klassiek - Released by Challenge Classics on 10 feb. 2017
24-Bit 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Meditacion y Concentracion
New age - Released by FreshTune Entertainment Inc on 4 okt. 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Happy New Year! Joyful Classical
Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Frédéric Chopin
Klassiek - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on 26 dec. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Flute Quartets, Arias from "Die Zauberflöte"
Klassiek - Released by CRD Records on 1 jan. 1999
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
HM Queen Elizabeth II: Funeral Music
Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Georg Friedrich Händel
Klassiek - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on 19 sep. 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart for Meditation: 99 Must-Have Mozart Masterpieces
Klassiek - Released by Cobra Entertainment LLC on 8 sep. 2017
24-Bit 48.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart For The Brain
Klassiek - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on 7 dec. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart for Sleep
Klassiek - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on 5 aug. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Classical BBQ
Klassiek - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on 23 jun. 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Horowitz plays Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Vladimir Horowitz
Klassiek - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on 22 aug. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Karajan - Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Herbert von Karajan
Klassiek - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on 11 jun. 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Berliner Philharmoniker plays Mozart
Berliner Philharmoniker, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Klassiek - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on 9 jan. 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Classically Beautiful Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Klassiek - Released by Only Between Us Records on 24 mrt. 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Clara Haskil plays Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Clara Haskil
Klassiek - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on 8 aug. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart: Gran Partita
Klassiek - Released by NBELive on 27 dec. 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart in the Car
Sir Neville Marriner, Mitsuko Uchida, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Klassiek - Released by UME - Global Clearing House on 9 jul. 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart & Beethoven: Works for Violin
Ji Won Song, Jose Gallardo, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, Fritz Kreisler, Pablo de Sarasate
Klassiek - Released by Rondeau Production on 27 apr. 2018
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Mozart : Requiem in D minor
Klassiek - Released by Armasi on 16 feb. 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
World Classical Concert
Klassiek - Released by Essential World Classics on 3 mei 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo