He is considered a child prodigy and superstar of the late 18th century. His absolute ear and brilliant œuvre made him famous. But there is more to the immortal fame of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart than that: rebelliousness, extravagance and a mysterious death far too early. It was clear to Mozart's father Leopold that his youngest son would grow up to be a celebrated musician from the moment the small and somewhat sickly Wolfgang Amadeus saw the light of day. As soon as the offspring was old enough to reach the keys of a piano, he was taught everything musical. Thus Mozart began to learn the piano at the age of three, the violin at four, and made his first public appearances before his sixth birthday. Together with his sister Maria Anna, whom his father had also raised to be a musical prodigy, little Mozart enchanted the courts and noble houses of Europe. He played blindfolded or at the piano with the keys covered. If the payment was right, the Mozart children also performed elsewhere, giving their skills in inns and at societies to the best.
Mozart's true talent was revealed when, at the tender age of eight, he was given his first book of sheet music. He knew how to write down entire pieces from memory after hearing them once and had composed several operas and symphonies himself before his thirteenth birthday. But the older Mozart got, the more the magic that his performances as a child prodigy had once exuded faded. The young man had to look for other opportunities to earn a living for himself and his family. And indeed he found respected employment with bishops and emperors. But he could never submit to his employers for more than a few months. Mozart rebelled, would not accept restrictions on his artistic freedom, and attracted negative attention with a childish, often silly nature.
Mozart increasingly sought distance from his father. In his mid-twenties he made the final break and went to Vienna. There, without his father's blessing, he married the sister of his first great love and became an independent artist. He worked as a composer and music teacher, sold prints of his sheet music and performed as a pianist. Mozart earned well, and by today's standards had an annual income of 150,000 euros. Nevertheless, he often led the life of a breadless artist. His ignorance of money matters, his addiction to pleasure and complete devotion to music forced him to live a life of extremes. Although the Viennese years were Mozart's most productive - here he composed Don Giovanni, The Marriage of Figaro, and The Magic Flute - they drained him of body and spirit. Surrounded by envious people and hashers all his life, he suspected at the end of his life that he was being poisoned. Mozart died at the age of 35. The true circumstances of his early death are still disputed today.
He is considered a child prodigy and superstar of the late 18th century. His absolute ear and brilliant œuvre made him famous. But there is more to the immortal fame of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart than that: rebelliousness, extravagance and a mysterious death far too early. It was clear to Mozart's father Leopold that his youngest son would grow up to be a celebrated musician from the moment the small and somewhat sickly Wolfgang Amadeus saw the light of day. As soon as the offspring was old enough to reach the keys of a piano, he was taught everything musical. Thus Mozart began to learn the piano at the age of three, the violin at four, and made his first public appearances before his sixth birthday. Together with his sister Maria Anna, whom his father had also raised to be a musical prodigy, little Mozart enchanted the courts and noble houses of Europe. He played blindfolded or at the piano with the keys covered. If the payment was right, the Mozart children also performed elsewhere, giving their skills in inns and at societies to the best.
Mozart's true talent was revealed when, at the tender age of eight, he was given his first book of sheet music. He knew how to write down entire pieces from memory after hearing them once and had composed several operas and symphonies himself before his thirteenth birthday. But the older Mozart got, the more the magic that his performances as a child prodigy had once exuded faded. The young man had to look for other opportunities to earn a living for himself and his family. And indeed he found respected employment with bishops and emperors. But he could never submit to his employers for more than a few months. Mozart rebelled, would not accept restrictions on his artistic freedom, and attracted negative attention with a childish, often silly nature.
Mozart increasingly sought distance from his father. In his mid-twenties he made the final break and went to Vienna. There, without his father's blessing, he married the sister of his first great love and became an independent artist. He worked as a composer and music teacher, sold prints of his sheet music and performed as a pianist. Mozart earned well, and by today's standards had an annual income of 150,000 euros. Nevertheless, he often led the life of a breadless artist. His ignorance of money matters, his addiction to pleasure and complete devotion to music forced him to live a life of extremes. Although the Viennese years were Mozart's most productive - here he composed Don Giovanni, The Marriage of Figaro, and The Magic Flute - they drained him of body and spirit. Surrounded by envious people and hashers all his life, he suspected at the end of his life that he was being poisoned. Mozart died at the age of 35. The true circumstances of his early death are still disputed today.
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