Biography and episodes of life Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. When born and died Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, memorable places and dates important events his life. composer quotes, images and videos.

Life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart:

born January 27, 1756, died December 5, 1791

Epitaph

"Mozart lives here,
He believed in something
What has no name
And there are no words to explain it.
He was able to express this through music.
When he died,
Only his bodily form was taken away.
They said they didn't recognize him.
And the body was buried in a common grave.
But we choose to believe
That he was never buried
Because he never died.
Take heed."
Stymin Karpen, epitaph to Mozart, translated by D. Samoilov

Biography

One day Mozart's father came home accompanied by his friend, the court trumpeter AI Shakhtner. Entering the house, the men saw how little Wolfgang, sitting at the table, diligently displays inscriptions on a sheet of music. When asked by his father about what he was doing, young Mozart replied that he was writing a musical composition for the harpsichord. Such a serious answer amused both the father and Mr. Shachtner, but their laughter continued only until the moment when they looked at music sheet written in a childish handwriting. Father read the notes, and tears flowed from his eyes: “How everything here is correct and meaningful!” he exclaimed. But the genius at that time was only four years old.

The first years of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's life were spent in Salzburg, the then capital of a small Austrian principality. Mozart's musical talent manifested itself very early: already at the age of three, he could build chords, improvise and play melodies by ear. Under the direction of Father Leopold Mozart - outstanding musician of that time - Wolfgang Amadeus learned to play the harpsichord, violin and organ. By the way, his older sister Maria Anna was no less gifted.

Concert activity in the biography of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart began at the age of six. True, at that time the young master toured in the company of his father and sister, nevertheless leaving behind him cheering crowds of spectators and a trail of glory growing every day. Thus, while still a child, Mozart visited almost all cultural centers Europe, which, in fact, provided him with the foundation for further solo career. During his life, Wolfgang Amadeus wrote more than 600 musical works.

Mozart's personal life was not only stormy, but not without scandals. The composer had only one chosen one - Constance Weber - a girl from a famous Munich family, in whose house he rented a room. The love of young people was strong and mutual, but Mozart's father prevented the wedding for a long time, caring more about his son's career and material well-being. However, the wedding nevertheless took place, and Constance became a faithful companion of Mozart, remaining his muse and benefactor to the very last days.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died at the age of 36. It seemed that the composer felt the proximity of his own death. In the last days of his life, he tirelessly worked on the "Requiem" and tearfully admitted to his wife that he was writing a memorial work for himself. Constance tried to entertain her lover with more cheerful topics, but, alas, you can’t get away from fate: in the end, the genius fell ill from a serious illness. For two weeks he did not get out of bed, but he was still conscious. And on December 5, 1791, the great composer died. Modern researchers claim that the cause of Mozart's death was a staphylococcal infection.

The news of Mozart's death instantly spread throughout the world, shocking the public. However, the funeral of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - the greatest musical genius of mankind - was held in the so-called third category: in a simple coffin to a common grave. And in this, by the way, there was nothing unusual, because monuments and personal graves could only afford the richest people that time, to which Mozart, alas, did not belong. But time compares the scores: Mozart's grave is currently the most visited place in St. Mark's cemetery in Vienna.

life line

January 27, 1756 Date of birth of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
1761 The appearance of the first musical compositions of the young genius: Andante in C major and Allegro in C major.
1762 The beginning of the concert activity of Wolfgang and his sister.
1770 Young Mozart moves to Italy, where he meets outstanding masters working in the musical field.
1779 Wolfgang Amadeus returns to Salzburg and receives a position as court organist.
1781 The composer moves to Vienna, where he reaches the peak of fame.
August 4, 1782 Wedding date of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Constance Weber.
1787 Mozart receives the position of imperial and royal chamber musician.
November 20, 1791 Beginning of Mozart's illness.
December 5, 1791 Date of Mozart's death.
December 6, 1791 Mozart's funeral at St. Mark's Cemetery in Vienna.

Memorable places

1. Mozart's home in Salzburg (now the Mozart House Museum) at Getreidegasse 9, 5020 Salzburg.
2. Cathedral of St. Rupert in Salzburg, where Mozart was baptized.
3. The city of Munich, where the first concert of the young composer took place.
4. St. Stephen's Cathedral, where the betrothal of Wolfgang Amadeus and Constance took place.
5. The Prater Park in Vienna is the composer's favorite place for walking.
6. Cemetery of St. Mark, where Mozart is buried. Mozart's grave is marked with a commemorative cenotaph.

Episodes of life

In the process of learning to play the violin, young Mozart used the instrument of a family friend, Mr. Schachtner. Later, playing his own violin, the boy noticed that the previous violin was tuned one-eighth of a tone higher than the previous one. Schachtner did not take the remarks seriously, but Leopold Mozart, knowing about his son's exceptional hearing, asked his friend to bring his violin for comparison. It turned out that Shachtner's violin was indeed tuned with an error of one eighth of a tone.

When Mozart's relationship with his future bride was only gaining momentum, the guardian of Constance Weber, Johann Thorowart, rudely interfered in them. He forced the young man to sign a written agreement that if Mozart did not marry Constance within three years, he would be forced to pay financial compensation in her favor for life. In order to prove the seriousness of his intentions, Wolfgang agreed. However, later Constance broke this obligation, arguing that she completely trusts the words of Mozart and does not need any written confirmation. With this event, Mozart's love for Constance grew stronger many times over.

Documentary about Mozart

Covenant

“Music, even in the most terrible dramatic situations, must always captivate the ear, always remain music.”

condolences

"It is my deep conviction that Mozart is the highest, culminating point, to which beauty has reached in the field of music."
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, composer

"Mozart is the youth of music, an eternally young spring, bringing to mankind the joy of spring renewal and spiritual harmony."
Dmitri Dmitrievich Shostakovich, composer

While in Salzburg, be sure to visit the house-museum where Mozart was born. It will be interesting and informative. Here you will see a large number of authentic interior items, antique musical instruments, personal belongings of the musician and his family, learn how the genius lived and created his eternal music.

Museum

Entrance, photo cherubino88

Thousands of music lovers come here to see the first musical instruments of Mozart, the first recordings musical notation and just enjoy his music. Here you can also see an unfinished portrait by brother-in-law Joseph Lange "Mozart at the piano". The violin played by young Mozart, his clavichord and family correspondence attract the attention of tourists.

Living room of the Mozart family, photo by Synn Wang

Among the musical instruments that Mozart played, Special attention deserve instruments donated by Mozart's widow, Constance Nissen (1762-1842) and his sons Carl Thomas and Franz Carl Thomas, who came into the possession of the International Mozart Foundation.

Commemorative plaque on the house, photo by Marco Verch

The theatrical achievements of Mozart are shown on the second floor. Numerous dioramas on miniature stages show episodes from his operas. Artists present various interpretations of Mozart's operas from the 18th century to the present day. The expositions of the museum are constantly updated.

Mozart's birth house, photo by Winona

Working hours

Tickets

Entry with the Salzburg Card is free.

How to get there

Take bus 912, 913, 914, 915, 918 to stop Ferdinand-Hanusch-Platz or 160, 170, 270 to Rathaus.‎

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Mozart (Johann Chrysostom Wolfgang Theophilus (Gottlieb) Mozart) was born on January 27, 1756 in the city of Salzburg into a musical family.

In the biography of Mozart, musical talent was revealed even in early childhood. His father taught him to play the organ, violin, harpsichord. In 1762 the family travels to Vienna, Munich. There are concerts by Mozart, his sister Maria Anna. Then, while traveling through the cities of Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Mozart's music amazes listeners with amazing beauty. For the first time the composer's works are published in Paris.

The next few years (1770-1774) Amadeus Mozart lived in Italy. There, for the first time, his operas (“Mithridates the King of Pontus”, “Lucius Sulla”, “The Dream of Scipio”) are staged, which receive great success from the public.

It should be noted that by the age of 17 the composer's wide repertoire included more than 40 major works.

The heyday of creativity

From 1775 to 1780, the seminal work of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart added a number of outstanding compositions to his cohort. After taking the position of court organist in 1779, Mozart's symphonies, his operas contain more and more new techniques.

In a brief biography of Wolfgang Mozart, it is worth noting that his marriage to Constance Weber also affected his work. The opera The Abduction from the Seraglio is imbued with the romance of those times.

Some of Mozart's operas remained unfinished, because the difficult financial situation of the family forced the composer to devote a lot of time to various part-time jobs. Piano concerts by Mozart were held in aristocratic circles, the musician himself was forced to write plays, waltzes to order, and teach.

glory peak

The work of Mozart in the following years is striking in its fruitfulness along with skill. The most famous operas "The Marriage of Figaro", "Don Juan" (both operas written jointly with the poet Lorenzo da Ponte) by composer Mozart are staged in several cities.

In 1789, he received a very lucrative offer to head the court chapel in Berlin. However, the composer's refusal further exacerbated the material shortage.

For Mozart, the works of that time were extremely successful. "Magic Flute", "Mercy of Titus" - these operas were written quickly, but very high quality, expressive, with beautiful shades. The famous mass "Requiem" was never completed by Mozart. The work was completed by the composer's student, Süssmeier.

Death

Since November 1791, Mozart was ill a lot and did not get out of bed at all. Died famous composer December 5, 1791 from an acute fever. Mozart was buried in the cemetery of St. Mark in Vienna.

Chronological table

Other biography options

• Of the seven children in the Mozart family, only two survived: Wolfgang and his sister Maria Anna.
• The composer showed his abilities in music, being just a child. At the age of 4 he wrote a harpsichord concerto, at the age of 7 he wrote his first symphony, and at the age of 12 he wrote his first opera.
• Mozart joined Freemasonry in 1784, writing music for their rituals. And later his father, Leopold, joined the same lodge.
• On the advice of Mozart's friend, Baron van Swieten, the composer was not given an expensive funeral. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was buried in the third category, like a poor man: his coffin was buried in a common grave.
• Mozart created light, harmonious and beautiful works which have become classics for children and adults. It has been scientifically proven that his sonatas and concertos have a positive effect on a person’s mental activity, help to become collected and think logically.
• see all

Born January 27, 1756 in Salzburg (Austria) and at baptism received the names Johann Chrysostom Wolfgang Theophilus. Mother - Maria Anna, nee Pertl; father - Leopold Mozart (1719-1787), composer and theorist, since 1743 - violinist in the court orchestra of the Salzburg Archbishop. Of the seven Mozart children, two survived: Wolfgang and his older sister Maria Anna. Both brother and sister had brilliant musical abilities: Leopold began giving his daughter harpsichord lessons when she was eight years old, and composed by her father in 1759 for Nannerl Notebook with light plays, it later came in handy when teaching little Wolfgang. At the age of three, Mozart picked up thirds and sixths on the harpsichord, at the age of five he began to compose simple minuets. In January 1762, Leopold took his miracle children to Munich, where they played in the presence of the Bavarian elector, and in September - to Linz and Passau, from there along the Danube - to Vienna, where they were received at court (in the Schönbrunn Palace) and were twice awarded reception at the Empress Maria Theresa. This journey marked the beginning of a series of concert tours that continued for ten years.

From Vienna, Leopold and his children moved along the Danube to Pressburg (now Bratislava, Slovakia), where they stayed from December 11 to 24, and then returned to Vienna by Christmas Eve. In June 1763, Leopold, Nannerl and Wolfgang began the longest of their concert trips: they returned home to Salzburg only by the end of November 1766. Leopold kept a travel diary: Munich, Ludwigsburg, Augsburg and Schwetzingen (the summer residence of the Elector of the Palatinate). On August 18, Wolfgang gave a concert in Frankfurt: by this time he had mastered the violin and played it freely, although not with such phenomenal brilliance as on keyboard instruments; in Frankfurt, he performed his violin concerto (among those present in the hall was the 14-year-old Goethe). This was followed by Brussels and Paris, where the family spent the entire winter of 1763/1764.

The Mozarts were received at the court of Louis XV during the Christmas holidays in Versailles and throughout the winter enjoyed great attention in aristocratic circles. At the same time, Wolfgang's four violin sonatas were first published in Paris.

In April 1764 the family went to London and lived there for over a year. A few days after their arrival, the Mozarts were solemnly received by King George III. As in Paris, the children gave public concerts during which Wolfgang demonstrated his amazing abilities. Composer Johann Christian Bach, a favorite of London society, immediately appreciated the enormous talent of the child. Often, putting Wolfgang on his knees, he played sonatas with him on the harpsichord: they played in turn, each for several bars, and did this with such accuracy that it seemed as if one musician was playing.

In London, Mozart composed his first symphonies. They followed the patterns of the gallant, lively and energetic music of Johann Christian, who became the boy's teacher, and demonstrated an innate sense of form and instrumental color.

In July 1765 the family left London for Holland; in September in The Hague, Wolfgang and Nannerl suffered severe pneumonia, from which the boy recovered only by February.

Then they continued their tour: from Belgium to Paris, then to Lyon, Geneva, Bern, Zurich, Donaueschingen, Augsburg, and finally to Munich, where the Elector again listened to the miracle child play and was amazed at the success he had made. As soon as they returned to Salzburg (November 30, 1766), Leopold began to make plans for the next trip. It began in September 1767. The whole family arrived in Vienna, where at that time a smallpox epidemic was raging. The disease overtook both children in Olmutz (now Olomouc, Czech Republic), where they had to stay until December. In January 1768 they reached Vienna and were again received at court; Wolfgang at that time wrote his first opera - The Imaginary Simple Woman (La finta semplice), but her production did not take place due to the intrigues of some Viennese musicians. At the same time, his first great mass for choir and orchestra appeared, which was performed at the opening of the church at the orphanage in front of a large and friendly audience. By order, a trumpet concerto was written, unfortunately not preserved. On the way home to Salzburg, Wolfgang performed his new symphony (K. 45a) at the Benedictine monastery in Lambach.

(Note on the numbering of Mozart's works: In 1862 Ludwig von Köchel published a catalog of Mozart's works in chronological order. From that time on, the titles of the composer's works usually include the Koechel number, just as the works of other authors usually contain the opus designation. For example, the full name of Piano Concerto No. 20 would be: Concerto No. 20 in D minor for Piano and Orchestra (K. 466). The Kochel index has been revised six times. In 1964, the Breitkopf & Hertel publishing house (Wiesbaden, Germany) published a deeply revised and supplemented Koechel index. It includes many works for which the authorship of Mozart has been proven and which were not mentioned in earlier editions. The dates of the compositions are also specified in accordance with the data of scientific research. In the 1964 edition, changes were made to the chronology, and consequently, new numbers appeared in the catalog, but Mozart's compositions continue to exist under the old numbers of the Koechel catalog.)

Best of the day

The purpose of the next trip planned by Leopold was Italy - the country of opera and, of course, the country of music in general. After 11 months of study and preparation for the trip in Salzburg, Leopold and Wolfgang began the first of three trips across the Alps. They were absent for more than a year (from December 1769 to March 1771). The first Italian journey turned into a chain of continuous triumphs - for the pope and the duke, for the king (Ferdinand IV of Naples) and for the cardinal and, most importantly, for the musicians. Mozart met with N.Picchini and G.B.Sammartini in Milan, with N.Iommelli, J.F. and Mayo and G. Paisiello in Naples. In Milan, Wolfgang received a commission for a new opera seria to be performed during the carnival. In Rome, he heard the famous Miserere G. Allegri, which he then wrote down from memory. Pope Clement XIV received Mozart on July 8, 1770 and awarded him the Order of the Golden Spur.

While studying counterpoint in Bologna with the famous teacher Padre Martini, Mozart began work on a new opera, Mithridates, King of Pontus (Mitridate, re di Ponto). At Martini's urging, he underwent an examination at the famous Bologna Philharmonic Academy and was accepted as a member of the academy. The opera was successfully shown at Christmas in Milan.

Wolfgang spent the spring and early summer of 1771 in Salzburg, but in August father and son went to Milan to prepare the premiere of the new opera Ascanio in Alba, which was successfully held on October 17. Leopold hoped to convince the Archduke Ferdinand, for whose wedding a festivity was organized in Milan, to take Wolfgang into his service; but by a strange coincidence, Empress Maria Theresa sent a letter from Vienna, where she expressed her displeasure with the Mozarts in strong terms (in particular, she called them "a useless family"). Leopold and Wolfgang were forced to return to Salzburg, unable to find a suitable job for Wolfgang in Italy.

On the very day of their return, December 16, 1771, Prince-Archbishop Sigismund, who was kind to the Mozarts, died. His successor was Count Jerome Colloredo, and for his inaugural celebrations in April 1772 Mozart composed a "dramatic serenade" of Scipio's Dream (Il sogno di Scipione). Colloredo accepted the young composer into the service with an annual salary of 150 guilders and gave permission to travel to Milan (Mozart undertook to write a new opera for this city); however, the new archbishop, unlike his predecessor, did not tolerate the Mozarts' long absences and was not inclined to admire their art.

The third Italian journey lasted from October 1772 to March 1773. Mozart's new opera, Lucius Sulla (Lucio Silla), was performed the day after Christmas 1772, and the composer did not receive further opera orders. Leopold tried in vain to enlist the patronage of the Grand Duke of Florence, Leopold. Having made several more attempts to arrange his son in Italy, Leopold realized his defeat, and the Mozarts left this country, never to return there again.

For the third time, Leopold and Wolfgang tried to settle in the Austrian capital; they remained in Vienna from mid-July to the end of September 1773. Wolfgang had the opportunity to get acquainted with the new symphonic works Viennese school, especially with dramatic symphonies in minor keys by J. Wanhal and J. Haydn; the fruits of this acquaintance are evident in his symphony in G minor (K. 183).

Forced to stay in Salzburg, Mozart devoted himself entirely to composition: at this time, symphonies, divertissements, works of church genres, as well as the first string quartet appeared - this music soon provided the author with a reputation as one of the most talented composers in Austria. The symphonies composed in late 1773 and early 1774 (for example, K. 183, 200, 201) are notable for their high dramatic integrity.

A short break from the Salzburg provincialism he hated was given to Mozart by an order from Munich for a new opera for the carnival of 1775: the premiere of the Imaginary Gardener (La finta giardiniera) was successfully held in January. But the musician almost did not leave Salzburg. Happy family life to some extent compensated for the boredom of Salzburg everyday life, but Wolfgang, who compared his current situation with the lively atmosphere of foreign capitals, gradually lost patience.

In the summer of 1777, Mozart was dismissed from the service of the archbishop and decided to seek his fortune abroad. In September, Wolfgang and his mother traveled through Germany to Paris. In Munich, the elector refused his services; on the way, they stopped at Mannheim, where Mozart was greeted friendly by local orchestra members and singers. Although he did not get a place at the court of Karl Theodor, he lingered in Mannheim: the reason was his love for the singer Aloysia Weber. In addition, Mozart hoped to make a concert tour with Aloisia, who had a magnificent coloratura soprano, he even went with her secretly to the court of the Princess of Nassau-Weilburg (in January 1778). Leopold initially believed that Wolfgang would go to Paris with a company of Mannheim musicians, letting his mother go back to Salzburg, but when he heard that Wolfgang was in love with no memory, he strictly ordered him to immediately go to Paris with his mother.

The stay in Paris, which lasted from March to September 1778, turned out to be extremely unsuccessful: on July 3, Wolfgang's mother died, and the Parisian court circles lost interest in the young composer. Although Mozart successfully performed two new symphonies in Paris and Christian Bach arrived in Paris, Leopold ordered his son to return to Salzburg. Wolfgang delayed the return as long as he could, and especially lingered in Mannheim. Here he realized that Aloysia was completely indifferent to him. It was a terrible blow, and only the terrible threats and entreaties of his father forced him to leave Germany.

Mozart's new symphonies (e.g., G major, K. 318; B flat major, K. 319; C major, K. 334) and instrumental serenades (e.g., D major, K. 320) are marked by crystal clear form and orchestration, richness and the subtlety of emotional nuances and that special cordiality that put Mozart above all Austrian composers, with the possible exception of J. Haydn.

In January 1779, Mozart again assumed the duties of organist at the archbishop's court with an annual salary of 500 guilders. Church music, which he was obliged to compose for Sunday services, is much higher in depth and variety than what he had previously written in this genre. The Coronation Mass and Missa solemnis in C major (K. 337) stand out in particular. But Mozart continued to feel hatred for Salzburg and the archbishop, and therefore gladly accepted the offer to write an opera for Munich. Idomeneo, King of Crete (Idomeneo, re di Creta) was installed at the court of Elector Charles Theodore (his winter residence was in Munich) in January 1781. Idomeneo was an excellent result of the experience acquired by the composer in the previous period, mainly in Paris and Mannheim. The choral writing is especially original and dramatic.

At that time, the Salzburg archbishop was in Vienna and ordered Mozart to immediately go to the capital. Here, the personal conflict between Mozart and Colloredo gradually assumed alarming proportions, and after the resounding public success of Wolfgang in a concert given in favor of the widows and orphans of Viennese musicians on April 3, 1781, his days in the service of the archbishop were numbered. In May, he submitted his resignation, and on June 8 he was put out the door.

Against the will of his father, Mozart married Constanza Weber, the sister of his first lover, and the mother of the bride managed to get very favorable conditions from Wolfgang for a marriage contract (to the anger and despair of Leopold, who showered his son with letters, begging him to change his mind). Wolfgang and Constanta were married in the Vienna Cathedral of St. Stephen on August 4, 1782. Although Constanta was as helpless in money matters as her husband, their marriage, apparently, turned out to be a happy one.

In July 1782, Mozart's opera The Abduction from the Seraglio (Die Entfhrung aus dem Serail) was staged at the Vienna Burgtheater; it was a significant success, and Mozart became the idol of Vienna, not only in court and aristocratic circles, but also among concertgoers from the third estate. Within a few years, Mozart reached the pinnacle of fame; life in Vienna prompted him to a variety of activities, composing and performing. He was in great demand, tickets for his concerts (the so-called academies), distributed by subscription, sold out completely. For this occasion, Mozart composed a series of brilliant piano concertos. In 1784 Mozart gave 22 concerts in six weeks.

In the summer of 1783 Wolfgang and his fiancee paid a visit to Leopold and Nannerl in Salzburg. On this occasion, Mozart wrote his last and best Mass in C minor (K. 427), which has not come down to us in full (if the composer finished the composition at all). The Mass was performed on 26 October at the Salzburg Peterskirche, with Constanza singing one of the soprano solo parts. (Constanze, by all appearances, was a good professional singer, although her voice was in many ways inferior to that of her sister Aloysia.) Returning to Vienna in October, the couple stopped in Linz, where the Linz Symphony (K. 425) appeared. In February of the following year, Leopold paid a visit to his son and daughter-in-law in their large Viennese apartment near the cathedral (this beautiful house has survived to our time), and although Leopold could not get rid of his dislike for Constance, he admitted that his son's work as a composer and performers are doing very well.

By this time, the beginning of many years of sincere friendship between Mozart and J. Haydn dates back. At a quartet evening with Mozart in the presence of Leopold, Haydn, turning to his father, said: “Your son - greatest composer of everyone I know personally or have heard of." Haydn and Mozart had a significant influence on each other; as for Mozart, the first fruits of this influence are evident in the cycle of six quartets which Mozart dedicated to a friend in a famous letter in September 1785.

In 1784 Mozart became a Freemason, which left a deep imprint on his philosophy of life; Masonic ideas can be traced in a number of Mozart's later compositions, especially in The Magic Flute. In those years, many well-known scientists, poets, writers, musicians in Vienna were members of Masonic lodges (Haydn was among them), Freemasonry was also cultivated in court circles.

As a result of various operatic and theatrical intrigues, L. da Ponte, court librettist, heir to the famous Metastasio, decided to work with Mozart in opposition to the clique of court composer A. Salieri and da Ponte's rival, librettist Abbe Casti. Mozart and da Ponte began with Beaumarchais's anti-aristocratic play The Marriage of Figaro, by which time the German translation of the play had not yet been banned. With the help of various tricks, they managed to obtain the necessary censorship permission, and on May 1, 1786 Figaro's Wedding (Le nozze di Figaro) was first shown at the Burgtheater. Although later this Mozart opera was a huge success, at the first production it was soon superseded by the new opera by V. Martin i Soler (1754–1806) A Rare Thing (Una cosa rara). Meanwhile, in Prague, the Marriage of Figaro gained exceptional popularity (melodies from the opera sounded on the streets, danced to arias from it in ballrooms and in coffee houses). Mozart was invited to conduct several performances. In January 1787, he and Constanta spent about a month in Prague, and this was the happiest time in the life of the great composer. The director of the opera company, Bondini, ordered him a new opera. It can be assumed that Mozart himself chose the plot - the old legend about Don Giovanni; the libretto was to be prepared by none other than da Ponte. The opera Don Giovanni was first performed in Prague on October 29, 1787.

In May 1787, the composer's father died. This year generally became a milestone in the life of Mozart, with regard to its external flow and the composer's state of mind. His reflections were increasingly colored by deep pessimism; forever gone are the brilliance of success and the joy of youth. The peak of the composer's journey was the triumph of Don Giovanni in Prague. After returning to Vienna at the end of 1787, Mozart began to pursue failures, and at the end of his life - poverty. The production of Don Giovanni in Vienna in May 1788 ended in failure; at the reception after the performance, Haydn alone defended the opera. Mozart received the position of court composer and bandmaster of Emperor Joseph II, but with a relatively small salary for this position (800 guilders per year). The emperor understood little about the music of either Haydn or Mozart; about the works of Mozart, he said that they were "not to the taste of the Viennese." Mozart had to borrow money from Michael Puchberg, his fellow Masonic.

In view of the hopelessness of the situation in Vienna (documents confirming how soon the frivolous Viennese forgot their former idol make a strong impression), Mozart decided to make a concert trip to Berlin (April - June 1789), where he hoped to find a place for himself at the court of the Prussian king Friedrich Wilhelm II . The result was only new debts, and even an order for six string quartets for His Majesty, who was a decent amateur cellist, and six clavier sonatas for Princess Wilhelmina.

In 1789, the health of Constanta, then Wolfgang himself, deteriorated, and the financial situation of the family became simply threatening. In February 1790, Joseph II died, and Mozart was not sure that he could keep his post as court composer under the new emperor. The celebrations for the coronation of Emperor Leopold were held in Frankfurt in the autumn of 1790, and Mozart went there at his own expense, hoping to attract the attention of the public. This performance (the “Coronation” clavier concerto, K. 537 was performed) took place on October 15, but did not bring any money. Returning to Vienna, Mozart met with Haydn; the London impresario Zalomon came to invite Haydn to London, and Mozart received a similar invitation to the English capital for the next winter season. He wept bitterly as he saw Haydn and Salomon off. “We will never see each other again,” he repeated. The previous winter, he invited only two friends, Haydn and Puchberg, to rehearsals of the opera Cos fan tutte.

In 1791, E. Schikaneder, a writer, actor and impresario, an old acquaintance of Mozart, ordered him a new opera for German for his "Freihaustheater" in the Viennese suburb of Wieden (the current theater "An der Wien"), and in the spring Mozart began working on the Magic Flute (Die Zauberflte). At the same time, he received from Prague an order for the coronation opera – La clemenza di Tito (La clemenza di Tito), for which Mozart's student F.K. Together with a student and Constanza, Mozart went to Prague in August to prepare a performance, which was held without much success on September 6 (later this opera was very popular). Mozart then hastily left for Vienna to complete the Magic Flute. The opera was performed on September 30, and at the same time he completed his last instrumental work, a concerto for clarinet and orchestra in A major (K. 622).

Mozart was already ill when, under mysterious circumstances, a stranger came to him and ordered a requiem. It was the manager of Count Walsegg-Stuppach. The count commissioned a composition in memory of his dead wife, intending to perform it under his own name. Mozart, confident that he was composing a requiem for himself, feverishly worked on the score until his strength left him. On November 15, 1791 he completed the Little Masonic Cantata. Constanza was at that time being treated in Baden and hastily returned home when she realized how serious her husband's illness was. On November 20, Mozart fell ill and a few days later felt so weak that he took communion. On the night of December 4-5, he fell into a delirious state and, in a semi-conscious state, imagined himself playing the timpani in Dies irae from his own unfinished requiem. It was almost one in the morning when he turned his back to the wall and stopped breathing. Constanța, broken by grief and without any means, had to agree to the cheapest funeral service in the chapel of the Cathedral of St. Stephen. She was too weak to accompany the body of her husband on a long journey to the cemetery of St. Mark, where he was buried without any witnesses other than gravediggers, in a paupers' grave, the location of which was soon hopelessly forgotten. Süssmeier completed the requiem and orchestrated large unfinished text fragments left by the author.

If during the life of Mozart his creative power was realized only by a relatively small number of listeners, then already in the first decade after the death of the composer, the recognition of his genius spread throughout Europe. This was facilitated by the success that The Magic Flute had with a wide audience. The German publisher André acquired the rights to most of Mozart's unpublished works, including his wonderful piano concertos and all of his later symphonies (none of which were printed during the composer's lifetime).

Mozart's personality.

250 years after the birth of Mozart, it is difficult to form a clear picture of his personality (although not as difficult as in the case of J.S. Bach, about whom we know even less). Apparently, the most opposite qualities were paradoxically combined in Mozart's nature: generosity and a penchant for caustic sarcasm, childishness and worldly sophistication, gaiety and a penchant for deep melancholy - up to pathological, wit (he ruthlessly mimicked those around him), high morality (although he did not favored the church too much), rationalism, a realistic outlook on life. Without a shadow of pride, he enthusiastically spoke about those whom he admired, for example, about Haydn, but he was merciless towards those whom he considered amateurs. His father once wrote to him: "You are all extremes, you do not know the golden mean," adding that Wolfgang is either too patient, too lazy, too indulgent, or - at times - too obstinate and restless, too hasty in the course of events instead of giving they go their own way. And after centuries, his personality seems to us mobile and elusive, like mercury.

Mozart family. Mozart and Constanza had six children, of whom two survived: Carl Thomas (1784–1858) and Franz Xaver Wolfgang (1791–1844). Both studied music, Haydn sent the elder to study at the Milan Conservatory with the famous theorist B. Azioli; however, Karl Thomas was still not a born musician and eventually became an official. The youngest son had musical abilities (Haydn even introduced him to the public in charity concert, which was held in Vienna in favor of Constanta), and he created a number of quite professional instrumental works.

MUSIC OF MOZART

It is impossible to find another composer who, with such brilliance as Mozart, mastered the most diverse genres and forms: this applies to the symphony and concerto, divertissement and quartet, opera and mass, sonata and trio. Even Beethoven cannot compare with Mozart in the exceptional brightness of operatic images (as for Fidelio, this is rather a monumental exception in Beethoven's work). Mozart was not an innovator like Haydn, but he made bold breakthroughs in the field of updating the harmonic language (for example, the famous Little Gigue in G major, K. 574 for piano - a very revealing example, reminiscent of the modern 12-tone technique). Mozart's orchestral writing is not as strikingly new as Haydn's, but the impeccability and perfection of the Mozart orchestra is a constant object of admiration for both musicians and laymen, who, in the words of the composer himself, "enjoy without realizing what it is." Mozart's style was formed on Salzburg soil (where there was a strong influence of Michael Haydn, Joseph's brother), and the impressions of numerous travels made in childhood had a deep and lasting impact on him. The most significant of these impressions is associated with Johann Christian Bach (ninth, younger son Johann Sebastian). Mozart became acquainted with the art of the "English Bach" in London, and the strength and grace of his scores left an unforgettable mark on the mind of the young Wolfgang. Later, Italy played a big role (where Mozart visited three times): there he took on the basics of dramaturgy and the musical language of the opera genre. And then Mozart became a close friend and admirer of J. Haydn and was captivated by Haydn's deeply meaningful interpretation sonata form. But in general, during the Viennese period, Mozart created his own, exclusively original style. And only in the 20th century. the amazing emotional richness of Mozart's art and its inner tragedy, closely adjacent to the external serenity, the sunshine of the major fragments of his music, were fully realized. In the old days, only Bach and Beethoven were considered as the main pillars of Western European music, but now many musicians and music lovers believe that this art has found its most perfect expression in the works of Mozart.

He believed in something
What has no name
And there are no words to explain it.
He was able to express this through music.
When he died,
Only his bodily form was taken away.
They said they didn't recognize him.
And the body was buried in a common grave.
But we choose to believe
That he was never buried
Because he never died.
Listen!

AauaFlver
AauaFlver 11.09.2016 03:32:54

In Paris, Wolfgang and Nannerl reached amazing heights in performing skills - Nannerl was equal to the leading Parisian virtuosos, and Wolfgang, in addition to his phenomenal abilities as a pianist, violinist and organist, amazed the audience with the art of impromptu accompaniment to a vocal aria, improvisation and playing from sight

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is a prominent representative of the Vienna classical school. He masterfully mastered various musical forms of his time, had a unique ear and a rare talent as an improviser. In a word, genius. And around the life and death of a genius, there are usually a lot of rumors and speculation. The composer passed away at the age of thirty-five. His early death became the subject of controversy, formed the basis of the plots of literary works. How did Mozart die? What caused his sudden death? And where is Mozart buried?

The composer, whose biography has been of interest to researchers around the world for more than two centuries, died in 1791. It is customary to start the biographies of prominent people from birth. But Mozart's biography is so extensive that any of the periods is worthy of close attention. This article will focus primarily on how Mozart died. There are many assumptions. But according to official version The cause of death was a long illness. But before embarking on a description of Mozart's last days, his biography should be briefly outlined.

Childhood

Where was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart born? The childhood city of the great musician's youth is Salzburg. Amadeus' father was a violinist. Leopold Mozart devoted his life to children. He did everything to ensure that his daughter and son received a decent musical education. It's the musical. Unique abilities with early years showed both Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, whose biography is presented in our article, and his older sister Nannerl.

Leopold began teaching his daughter how to play the harpsichord quite early. Wolfgang was at that time quite small. But he followed his sister's lessons and repeated individual passages from musical works. Then Leopold decided that his son must certainly become a composer. Wolfgang, like his Nannerl, started performing very early. The audience was fascinated by the game of geeks.

Youth and the beginning of creativity

Since 1781, the hero of this article lived in Vienna. Haydn is a classic. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, along with these great musicians, created works that will never be forgotten. He managed to achieve such heights not only thanks to his innate talent, but also to perseverance and hard work.

At what age did Mozart die? The composer was only thirty-five. And ten years before his death, he settled in Vienna. During this short period of time, Wolfgang turned from a little-known musician into

The house belonged to the Webers, who had three unmarried daughters. One of them is Wolfgang's future wife, Constance. In the same year, when he first crossed the threshold of the Weber house, he began to create the opera Abduction from the Seraglio. The work was approved by the Viennese public, but the name of Mozart still had no weight in musical circles.

Glory

Mozart soon married Constance Weber. After the wedding, his relationship with his father went wrong. Mozart Sr. until the last days was hostile to his daughter-in-law. The peak of Wolfgang's fame falls on the mid-eighties. A few years before his death, he begins to receive huge fees. The Mozarts move into a luxurious apartment, hire servants and buy a piano for crazy money at that time. The musician strikes up a friendship with Haydn, who once even gives a collection of his works.

In February 1785, the public was presented with a piano concerto in D minor. "Why did the great Mozart die in poverty?" - sometimes you can hear such a question. What is the basis of the opinion about the financial troubles of the pianist and composer? Indeed, in the mid-eighties, Mozart was at the peak of his fame. He was one of the wealthiest musicians in Vienna in 1787. Four years before his death, he sent his son to a very expensive and prestigious educational institution. And in the same year, the great pianist joined the Masonic lodge. But in last years the composer was somewhat shaken. However, it was still far from poverty.

Financial difficulties

In 1789, Wolfgang's wife fell ill. He was forced to send her to a medical resort, which shook his financial situation. A few months later, Constance began to recover. By that time, The Marriage of Figaro had already had considerable success. Mozart took up writing works for the theatre. He had written operas before. But his early writings were not successful.

The last year of his life for Mozart was very fruitful. He wrote a symphony in G minor, received the post of bandmaster. And, finally, he began to work on "Requiem". It was ordered by a stranger who wants to honor the memory of his wife.

Requiem

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, whose biography is surprisingly eventful, despite his early death, wrote an uncountable number of works. He had many students, he received during his lifetime good fees from the publication of his works. Shortly before his death, he began to create his last work - "Requiem". The work captured him so much that he stopped accepting students. In addition, his health suddenly began to deteriorate every day.

How Mozart died was told years later by relatives who witnessed the death of the great composer. Among them was the son of a musician. According to the memoirs of relatives, Mozart suddenly became so ill that he had to call a doctor. And not any, but the best in Vienna. Indeed, the healer helped the musician. However, the improvement did not last long. Soon Mozart fell ill completely.

Acute millet fever

According to the memoirs of Sophie Weber, the musician's sister-in-law, after his condition worsened, the relatives decided to call another doctor. The cause of Mozart's death is controversial, because his symptoms were so unusual that they did not allow doctors to come to a consensus regarding the diagnosis.

In recent weeks, the composer's hearing has become more acute. He suffered from unbearable pain, even from touching his body to his clothes. Mozart was getting weaker every day. And besides, his condition worsened due to imperfect methods of medicine. The patient was regularly bled: this therapeutic technique in those days was considered universal. The cause of Mozart's death, perhaps, would have been established if he had lived in the 21st century. In the eighteenth century, the methods of treatment were, to put it mildly, ineffective. The death certificate of the genius was: acute millet fever.

At that time, a good part of the Viennese population suffered from this disease. How to treat him, the doctors did not know. That is why one of the doctors, having visited the dying man, concluded: he can no longer be saved.

General weakness of the body

The life and work of Mozart is the subject of many books, fiction and documentaries. His rare gift was discovered in early age. But in addition to the unique abilities, Mozart, contrary to popular belief, extraordinary diligence. Much has been said today about how Mozart died. There is a version that the envious Salieri poisoned the great musician. But the composer's contemporaries thought otherwise.

After Mozart's death, some doctors claimed that he died of a serious infectious disease. His body could not fight as a result of general weakness. And Mozart was physically weakened as a result of many years of work without interruption and rest.

Over the years, it has become increasingly difficult for researchers to diagnose a musician. There are many contradictions in the records of Sophie Weber and other relatives. It was these circumstances that gave rise to a lot of versions about the death of Amadeus Mozart. Let's consider each of them.

Salieri

The version that Mozart died at the hands of an envious person is the most common. And it was she who formed the basis of Pushkin's tragedy. According to this version, Mozart's life and work were surrounded by idleness. Nature allegedly endowed the musician with such talent that no effort was required. Everything Mozart managed effortlessly, easily. And Salieri, on the contrary, with all his efforts, was not able to achieve even a miserable share of what Mozart could do.

Pushkin's work is based on fiction. But many readers today do not distinguish the author's fantasies from confirmed facts. Pushkin's heroes argue that genius and evil are incompatible concepts. In the work of the Russian writer, Salieri prevents poison from Mozart, because he does not agree with him. He believes that he is sacrificing an idle but gifted composer to art.

The opinion that Salieri is a murderer is considered to be one of the versions also because at the beginning of the nineteenth century his confession was found in one of the church archives, in which he confessed and repented of his deed. There are no confirmed facts that this document really existed. However, even today, many admirers of Mozart's work are sure that the genius fell victim to the envy of a "colleague".

Constance

There is another version of poisoning. Its adherents believe that Mozart was sent to the next world by his wife. And one of the musician's students helped her in this. If you believe the rumors, then the passionate romance of Constance and Züsmayr was accompanied by showdowns and extremely emotional reconciliations. The lover of Mozart's wife was a very ambitious man, if not a careerist. And he could well enter into a love affair with Constance solely in order to harass his great teacher. But why did Süssmayr need to get rid of Mozart? What would his death give him?

In addition, this version is less plausible due to the fact that after the death of the musician, his diary was preserved. And he is a testament to the deepest devotion and love that reigned in the Mozart family.

ritual murder

And finally, the latest version. If we take into account only those that talk about violent death, then this one is perhaps the most plausible. As already mentioned, the great musician was in the Masonic lodge. Masons, as a rule, help their "brothers". But they did not help Mozart when he was in severe financial difficulties. They even ignored the death of the composer, not canceling the next meeting as a sign of mourning.

Some researchers believe that the reason for the murder was Mozart's intention to create his own lodge. In one of latest works- "The Magic Flute" - Masonic symbols are used. Demonstrating something similar to the uninitiated was not accepted. Perhaps Mozart was killed by his Masonic brothers.

burial

It is known where Mozart is buried. In the cemetery of Saint Mark. The date of the burial remains disputed. According to the official version - December 6th. It is widely believed that Mozart was buried in mass grave intended for the poor. But, according to historians, the burial took place according to the third category. It was not the funeral of a beggar, but also not a magnificent farewell ceremony for the great composer, pianist, teacher. As is often the case, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's true fame came after his death.