Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

The remarkable musician and composer by the name of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria in 1756. At the early ages of three and four, Wolfgang exhibited extraordinary powers of music memory and ear-sophistication. Leopold Mozart, Wolfgang’s father, realized that his son was a true musical prodigy. He also realized that his best work wouldn’t be his own, but in his son’s future as a musician and composer. At about the age of three, Wolfgang spent hours at the piano discovering constant intervals and receiving systematic training from his father. Young Mozart also picked up violin playing practically by intuition alone. When Wolfgang was five, Leopold wrote him his first theme with a great deal of variations. At the age of eight, Wolgang undertook a concert tour with his father through out different areas of Europe. From this point on, young Mozart was constantly performing and writing music.

Wherever he appeared, people gazed in amazement at his divine gifts. He was a true musical prodigy. By his early teens, Mozart mastered

the piano, violin, and the harpsichord. W.A. Mozart performed up until 1788 when he decided to compose. He died in 1791 at the age of thirty-five.

In Wolfgang’s short life, he composed over six hundred works. These include 21 stage and opera works, 15 masses, over 50 symphonies, 25 piano concertos, 12 violin concertos, 27 concert arias, 17 piano sonatas, 26 string quartets….the list is endless. His first major seria was Mitridate. Wolfgang performed this opera in Milan in 1770 when he was only fourteen. His first official opera was The Abduction from the Seraglio. This opera was first performed in Vienna and remained a big hit. W.A. Mozart’s operas ranged from comic baubles to tragic masterpieces. Some foolish performers actually rejected playing under the direction of a twelve-year-old boy. Mozart was an exceptional composer as well as an all-star performer. In 1767, Mozart composed an opera buffa called, La Finta Semplice,” which came about as a huge hit. In 1788, Mozart returned to Salzburg as a concertmaster. He was recognized greatly

throughout Europe. He halted his performances to stand clearly as a composer.

The great musical master by the name of W.A. Mozart’s individuality was of an exquisitely delicate, tender, and noble character. His operas, “ Don Juan”, “ The Magic Flute”, “ The Marriage of Figaro”, “ La Clemenza di Tito”, on account of their melodic beauty and truth of expression, have as strong a hold upon the affections of musical public today as they did at the end of the eighteenth century. Mozart’s instrumental works continue to delight people all over the world. Although a great composer of the church, he doesn’t receive great recognition in this area of his musical background. He is way more recognized for his operas and extravagant instrumental pieces. Mozart was a great musical genius who wrote pieces complete and perfect. Mozart brought the Viennese Classical style of music to its height. Although others such as Beethoven and Haydn had a skill in playing Viennese Classical style music, Mozart was way too unique and perfect for them to surpass. Mozart influenced people all over the world by performing his musical wonders. Just to see a musical prodigy take over at an age of eight is enough motivation for anybody to

accomplish anything. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is a special unique person who we will never see replicated.

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