Mozart biography synopsis

A breakthrough of sorts came, however, when a commission from Munich led to his first great opera, Idomeneoa work into which he poured all of the musical experience he had gained so far. He died in Decembernot long after the successful premiere of his last opera, The Magic Fluteand was buried in an unmarked grave. In more than works, Mozart excelled at almost every form he turned his hand to, from operas, piano concertos and chamber music to Masses, symphonies and wind serenades.

From the outset his music was characterised by formal and melodic fluency, but the works of his last decade took this to new heights, adding a textural richness and an emotional profundity far beyond the reach of his rivals. One of the defining figures of the High Classical style as well as an inspiration through his more demonic side to the Romantics, he is today the best-loved of all classical composers.

But, more than that, mozart biography synopsis his Shakespearian ability to combine tragedy and comedy, confidence and vulnerability, beauty and truth, he ranks as one of the most enriching presences in Western art. Search term:. From toMozart divided his time between self-produced concerts as soloist, presenting three to four new piano concertos in each season.

Theater space for rent in Vienna was sometimes hard to come by, so Mozart booked himself in unconventional venues such as large rooms in apartment buildings and ballrooms of expensive restaurants. During one five-week period, he appeared in 22 concerts, including five he produced and performed as the soloist. In a typical concert, he would play a selection of existing and improvisational pieces and his various piano concertos.

Other times he would conduct performances of his symphonies. Despite his success as a pianist and composer, Mozart was falling into serious financial difficulties. Mozart associated himself with aristocratic Europeans and felt he should live like one. He figured that the best way to attain a more stable and lucrative income would be through court appointment.

Letters written between Mozart and his father, Leopold, indicate that the two felt a rivalry for and mistrust of the Italian musicians in general and Salieri in particular. But in truth, there is no basis for this speculation. Though both composers were often in contention for the same job and public attention, there is little evidence that their relationship was anything beyond a typical professional rivalry.

Toward the end ofMozart met the librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte, a Venetian composer and poet and together they collaborated on the opera The Marriage of Figaro. It received a successful premiere in Vienna in and was even more warmly received in Prague later that year. This triumph led to a second collaboration with Da Ponte on the opera Don Giovanni which premiered in to high acclaim in Prague.

Both compositions feature the wicked nobleman, though Figaro is presented more in comedy and portrays strong social tension. Perhaps the central achievement of both operas lies in their ensembles with their close link between music and dramatic meaning. The gesture was as much an honor bestowed on Mozart as it was an incentive to keep the esteemed composer from leaving Vienna for greener pastures.

It was a part-time appointment with low pay, but it required Mozart only to compose dances for the annual balls. The modest income was a welcome windfall for Mozart, who was struggling with debt, and provided him the freedom to explore more of his personal musical ambitions. He was performing less and his income shrank. Austria was at war and both the affluence of the nation and the ability of the aristocracy to support the arts had declined.

By mid, Mozart moved his family from central Vienna to the suburb of Alsergrund, for what would seem to be a way of reducing living costs. But in reality, his family expenses remained high and the new dwelling only provided more room. Mozart began to borrow money from friends, though he was almost always able to promptly repay when a commission or concert came his way.

During this time he wrote his last three symphonies and the last of the three Da Ponte operas, Cosi Fan Tuttewhich premiered in The two-year period of was a low point for Mozart, experiencing in his own words "black thoughts" and deep depression. Historians believe he may have had some form of bipolar disorder, which might explain the periods of hysteria coupled with spells of hectic creativity.

Between andnow in his mid-thirties, Mozart went through a period of great music productivity and personal healing. Some of his most admired works -- the opera The Magic Flutethe final piano concerto in B-flat, the Clarinet Concerto in A major, and the unfinished Requiem to name a few -- were written during this time. Mozart was able to revive much of his public notoriety with repeated performances of his works.

His financial situation began to improve as wealthy patrons in Hungary and Amsterdam pledged annuities in return for occasional compositions. From this turn of fortune, he was able to pay off many of his debts. While Wolfgang was young, his family made several European journeys in which he and Nannerl performed as child prodigies. A particularly significant influence was Johann Christian Bachwhom he visited in London in and When he was eight years old, Mozart wrote his first symphonymost of which was probably transcribed by his father.

The family trips were often challenging, and travel conditions were primitive. This tour lasted from December to March As with earlier journeys, Leopold wanted to display his son's abilities as a performer and a rapidly maturing composer. There exists a myth, according to which, while in Rome, he heard Gregorio Allegri 's Miserere twice in performance in the Sistine Chapel.

Allegedly, he subsequently wrote it out from mozart biography synopsis, thus producing the "first unauthorised copy of this closely guarded property of the Vatican ". However, both the origin and plausibility of this account are disputed. In Milan, Mozart wrote the opera Mitridate, re di Pontowhich was performed with success. This led to further opera commissions.

He returned with his father twice to Milan August—December ; October — March for the composition and premieres of Ascanio in Alba and Lucio Silla Leopold hoped these visits would result in a professional appointment for his son, and indeed ruling Archduke Ferdinand contemplated hiring Mozart, but owing to his mother Empress Maria Theresa 's reluctance to employ "useless people", the matter was dropped [ e ] and Leopold's hopes were never realised.

After finally returning with his father from Italy on 13 MarchMozart was employed as a court musician by the ruler of Salzburg, Prince-Archbishop Hieronymus Colloredo. The composer had many friends and admirers in Salzburg [ 23 ] and had the mozart biography synopsis to work in many genres, including symphonies, sonatas, string quartets, massesserenades, and a few minor operas.

Between April and DecemberMozart developed an enthusiasm for violin concertos, producing a series of five the only ones he ever wrotewhich steadily increased in their musical sophistication. The last three— K. Despite these artistic successes, Mozart grew increasingly discontented with Salzburg and redoubled his efforts to find a position elsewhere.

One reason was his low salary, florins a year; [ 25 ] Mozart longed to compose operas, and Salzburg provided only rare occasions for these. The situation worsened in when the court theatre was closed, especially since the other theatre in Salzburg was primarily reserved for visiting troupes. Two long expeditions in search of work interrupted this long Salzburg stay.

Mozart and his father visited Vienna from 14 July to 26 Septemberand Munich from 6 December to March Neither visit was successful, though the Munich journey resulted in a popular success with the premiere of Mozart's opera La finta giardiniera. In AugustMozart resigned his position at Salzburg [ 29 ] [ f ] and on 23 September ventured out once more in search of employment, with visits to AugsburgMannheim, Paris, and Munich.

Mozart became acquainted with members of the famous orchestra in Mannheim, the best in Europe at the time. He also fell in love with Aloysia Weberone of four daughters of a musical family. There were prospects of employment in Mannheim, but they came to nothing, [ 31 ] and Mozart left for Paris on 14 March [ 32 ] to continue his search.

One of his letters from Paris hints at a possible post as an organist at Versaillesbut Mozart was not interested in such an appointment. While Mozart was in Paris, his father was pursuing opportunities of employment for him in Salzburg. The annual salary was florins, [ 39 ] but he was reluctant to accept. After leaving Paris in September for Strasbourghe lingered in Mannheim and Munich, still hoping to obtain an appointment outside Salzburg.

In Munich, he again encountered Aloysia, now a very successful singer, but she was no longer interested in him. Among the better-known works which Mozart wrote on the Paris journey are the A minor piano sonataK. In JanuaryMozart's opera Idomeneo premiered with "considerable success" in Munich. For Colloredo, this was simply a matter of wanting his musical servant to be at hand Mozart indeed was required to dine in Colloredo's establishment with the valets and cooks.

My main goal right now is to meet the emperor in some agreeable fashion, I am absolutely determined he should get to know me. I would be so happy if I could whip through my opera for him and then play a fugue or two, for that's what he likes. Mozart did indeed soon meet the Emperor, who eventually was to support his career substantially with commissions and a part-time position.

Colloredo's wish to prevent Mozart from performing outside his establishment was in other cases carried through, raising the composer's anger; one example was a chance to perform before the Emperor at Countess Thun 's for a fee equal to half of his yearly Salzburg salary. The quarrel with the archbishop came to a head in May: Mozart attempted to resign and was refused.

The following month, permission was granted, but in a grossly insulting way: the composer was dismissed literally "with a kick in the arse", administered by the archbishop's steward, Count Arco. Mozart decided to settle in Vienna as a freelance performer and composer. The quarrel with Colloredo was more difficult for Mozart because his father sided against him.

Hoping fervently that he would obediently follow Colloredo back to Salzburg, Mozart's father exchanged intense letters with his son, urging him to be reconciled with their employer. Mozart passionately defended his intention to pursue an independent career in Vienna. The debate ended when Mozart was dismissed by the archbishop, freeing himself both of his employer and of his father's demands to return.

Solomon characterizes Mozart's resignation as a "revolutionary step" that significantly altered the course of his life. Mozart's new career in Vienna began well. He often performed as a pianist, notably in a competition before the Emperor with Muzio Clementi on 24 December[ 50 ] and he soon "had established himself as the finest keyboard player in Vienna".

The work was soon being performed "throughout German-speaking Europe", [ 50 ] and thoroughly established Mozart's reputation as a composer. Near the height of his quarrels with Colloredo, Mozart moved in with the Weber family, who had moved to Vienna from Mannheim. The family's father, Fridolin, had died, and the Webers were now taking in lodgers to make ends meet.

After failing to win the hand of Aloysia Weber, who was now married to the actor and artist Joseph LangeMozart's interest shifted to the third daughter of the family, Constanze. The courtship did not go entirely smoothly; surviving correspondence indicates that Mozart and Constanze briefly broke up in Aprilover an episode involving jealousy Constanze had permitted another young man to measure her calves in a parlour game.

The marriage took place in an atmosphere of crisis. Daniel Heartz suggests that eventually, Constanze moved in with Mozart, which would have placed her in disgrace by the mores of the time. Further postponement is out of the question. Perhaps it is only a ruse of Madame Weber to get her daughter back. If not, I know no better remedy than to marry Constanze tomorrow morning or if possible today.

The couple were finally married on 4 August in St. Stephen's Cathedralthe day before his father's consenting letter arrived in the mail. In the marriage contract, Constanze "assigns to her bridegroom five hundred gulden which Further, all joint acquisitions during the marriage were to remain the common property of both. The couple had six children, of whom only two survived infancy: [ 57 ].

In andMozart became intimately acquainted with the work of Johann Sebastian Bach and George Frideric Handel as a result of the influence of Gottfried van Swietenwho owned many manuscripts of the Baroque masters. InMozart and his wife visited his family in Salzburg. His father and sister were cordially polite to Constanze, but the visit prompted the composition of one of Mozart's great liturgical pieces, the Mass in C minor.

Though not completed, it was premiered in Salzburg, with Constanze singing a solo part. Mozart met Joseph Haydn in Vienna aroundand the two composers became friends. When Haydn visited Vienna, they sometimes played together in an impromptu string quartet. Mozart's six quartets dedicated to Haydn K. From to Mozart mounted concerts with himself as a soloist, presenting three or four new piano concertos in each season.

Since space in the theatres was scarce, he booked unconventional venues: a large room in the Trattnerhof apartment building, and the ballroom of the Mehlgrube restaurant. Solomon writes that during this period, Mozart created "a harmonious connection between an eager composer-performer and a delighted audience, which was given the opportunity of witnessing the transformation and perfection of a major musical genre".

With substantial returns from his concerts and elsewhere, Mozart and his wife adopted a more luxurious lifestyle. They moved to an expensive apartment, with a yearly rent of florins. During this period Mozart saved little of his income. He focused instead on his career as a piano soloist and writer of concertos. Around the end ofMozart moved away from keyboard writing [ 71 ] and began his famous operatic collaboration with the librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte.

The year saw the successful premiere of Le nozze di Figaro in Vienna. Its reception in Prague later in the year was even warmer, and this led to a second collaboration with Da Ponte: the opera Don Giovanniwhich premiered in October to acclaim in Prague, but less success in Vienna during These developments were not witnessed by Mozart's father, who had died on 28 May In DecemberMozart finally obtained a steady post under aristocratic patronage.

Emperor Joseph II appointed him as his "chamber composer", a post that had fallen vacant the previous month on the death of Gluck. It was a part-time appointment, paying just florins per year, and required Mozart only to compose dances for the annual balls in the Redoutensaal see Mozart and dance. This modest income became important to Mozart when hard times arrived.

Court records show that Joseph aimed to keep the esteemed composer from leaving Vienna in pursuit of better prospects. Inthe young Ludwig van Beethoven spent several weeks in Vienna, hoping to study with Mozart. Toward the end of the decade, Mozart's circumstances worsened. Aroundhe ceased to appear frequently in public concerts, and his income shrank.

By mid, Mozart and his family had moved from central Vienna to the suburb of Alsergrund. Around this time, Mozart made some long journeys hoping to improve his fortunes, visiting Leipzig, Dresden, and Berlin in the spring ofand FrankfurtMannheim, and other German cities in Mozart's last year was, until his final illness struck, a time of high productivity—and by some accounts, one of personal recovery.

Mozart's financial situation, a source of anxiety infinally began to improve. Although the evidence is inconclusive, [ 83 ] it appears that wealthy patrons in Hungary and Amsterdam pledged mozart biographies synopsis to Mozart in return for the occasional composition. He is thought to have benefited from the sale of dance music written in his role as Imperial chamber composer.

He experienced great satisfaction in the public success of some of his works, notably The Magic Flute which was performed several times in the short period between its premiere and Mozart's death [ 84 ] and the Little Masonic Cantata K. Mozart fell ill while in Prague for the premiere, on 6 Septemberof his opera La clemenza di Titowhich was written in that same year on commission for Emperor Leopold II 's coronation festivities.

His health deteriorated on 20 November, at which point he became bedridden, suffering from swelling, pain, and vomiting. Mozart was nursed in his final days by his wife and her youngest sister and was attended by the family doctor, Thomas Franz Closset. His mother died there. Mozart wrote some small operas when he was young, but his first really important opera was Idomeneo.

It was first performed in Munich in The next year he went to Vienna. By this time he was working, like his father, for the Archbishop of Salzburg. When he went back to Salzburg he argued with the Archbishop. The Archbishop kicked him out for this. Mozart went off to Vienna. He would spend the rest of his life there. Inhe married Constanze Weber.

She was one of the three younger sisters of Aloysia who by now was married to someone else. They had seven children, but five of them died in childhood. Constanze was a loving wife, but, like Mozart, she was not good at looking after money so they were often very poor. There is a famous story about the first performance of the opera.

The story is about a short conversation between emperor Joseph II and Mozart. Mozart started many concerts in which he played his own piano concertos. He composed these concertos himself and conducted from the keyboard. Mozart's piano concertos are still very popular today.

Mozart biography synopsis

He wrote 27 piano concertos. All the concertos have a number to know which is which. Popular piano concertos are numbers Nos. Many of the concertos are some of Mozart's best works. He met the composer Joseph Haydn and the two men became great friends. They often played together in a string quartet. Haydn said to Leopold Mozart one day: "Before God and as an honest man I tell you that your son is the greatest composer known to me either in person or by name.

He has taste, and what is more, the most profound knowledge of composition. This meant the two were part of a group with similar interests. Mozart dedicated six string quartets to Haydn. They are called the "Haydn" Quartets. There are two famous "Haydn" Quartets. One of them is called the "Hunt" and the other is called "Dissonance. In his later years, Mozart was earning less money than before.

Aristocrats could not support him with money. The reason was because there was a war. The audiences in Vienna did not give Mozart much support after a few years. That is why he often went to Prague where the audiences loved him. His opera The Marriage of Figaro was very popular. Inhe gave the first performance there of his opera Don Giovanni.

He was working on an opera The Magic Flute. It is one of his best works and a very popular opera today. It is written in Germannot Italianlike most of his other operas.