Mozart, who has never in his life heard part of the Marriage of Figaro or the Magic FluteI’m sure we’ve all heard them on more than one occasion. Mozart not only stood out for his precocity but also for his rebelliousness, he rejected patronage that would have allowed him to live comfortably, but no, his impulsive and eccentric character led him to live the life he wanted, outside the conventions of The time. In this article, we are going to dig deeper into Mozart’s life, their works, their fears and frustrations, intrigues and enemies.
Mozart | His childhood
His real name was Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart. He was born on January 27, 1756 in the austrian city of salzburg.
Leopold Mozart and Anna Maria Pertl fThey were the parents of seven children, of whom only two Maria Anna and the youngest Wolfgang survived. Her mother, Anna Maria, came from a wealthy family, while her father was a modest Court violinist and composer of the Prince Archbishop of Salzburg.
Mozart grew up in a musical environment and more when his father held the position of composer and vice-master of the chapel in the court of the prince archbishop.
In a period in which Salzburg was beginning to recover from past wars, economic disasters that had reduced the capacity of the city and where cultural life revolved around the prince’s court. It is at this time when they begin to circulate the illustrated ideas throughout Europe, with its new conceptions.
Socially, in Salzburg in the mid-18th century, an incipient urban bourgeoisie began to appear, still far from the centers of power and influenced by the new enlightened currents of knowledge, reason against superstition, for a reason the 18th century is Age of Enlightenment.
Wolfgang’s father, Leopold, wanted his sons to be educated as musicians in order to contribute to the family economy and secure a salary within the court of the Prince Archbishop. Maria Anna, wolfgang’s sister, older than 5 years, she was a virtuous girlout of series, with only 10 years he gave piano lessons, one of his students being his own brother.
Mozart | a precocious child
Maria Anna was a child prodigy and her father put all his aspirations into her, not realizing that little Wolfgang at the age of 3 remained astonished at his sister’s classes, or that he exercised his fingers with a harpsichord.
When Leopold personally took charge of his children’s musical education, it was when he discovered that he not only had a virtuoso daughter, but also little Wolfgang was able to read musical notes with complete ease and was even able to play minuets.
Little Mozart was able to memorize melodies what I heard in church and repeat them upon his return home. One day, Leopold, reviewing the notebook of his daughter Maria Anna, discovered to his astonishment the first compositions of his son Wolfgang, with his poor childish handwriting, full of smudges, but perfectly developed.
From here it was when Leopold devoted himself body and soul to his son, aware of the potential of the little genius he had at home.
With a father full of pride at the genius of his two children, he decided to introduce them to the world by visiting all the European courts, not only to increase his pride with the praise of those who listened to the children, but looking for patrons to ensure the future of their children.
Mozart | Youth
Wolfgang was a person who constantly demanded affectivity, especially the affection of his mother, who accompanied him on all his tours.
The character of the young Mozart He was eccentric, crazy, thoughtless and cheerful, traits that disappeared the moment he picked up a musical instrument, where he became serious, absorbed in the music, letting his feelings flow through his fingers, and even insulting if he was interrupted by any noise from the room.
Mozart was a child without childhood, at the age of five he was working with his father, in constant tours. He couldn’t have relationships with other children, he didn’t have friends his age since the only contact he had was with adults.
A child treated like an adult, at the age of twelve he was considered an expert concert player, admired and loved throughout Europe. The young Mozart never had rules, he lived his life as he wanted, he traveled and he liked variety. He had never needed to make decisions, that was what his father was for, who was in charge of contracts, concerts, the pieces that had to be played and when.
Mozart lived an adolescence full of parties, he got used to fame and being the center of attention. A man who came to compose an average of four pieces a month, always thinking of new melodies. Works that were well paid, but he had never been responsible for anything and he knew how to manage us.
He lived hand to mouth, spending what he had on parties, however he died poor in 1791, at the age of 35, leaving us to our delight more than 600 works of excellent quality.
Mozart | His Musical Facet
After his tour of the European courts, his return to salzburg it was triumphant. The city I take Mozart as his own and hired him to musicalize the local festivities. But he soon noticed the low wages he was assigned. To make matters worse, when he died Archbishop Sigismund of Schrattenbachhis protector, took his place on Earl-Prince Hyeronimus Colloredoauthoritarian and rigid character who will make life impossible.
Mozart traveled several times Italy, visiting Rome, Florence and other meccas of peninsular art. This substantially influenced the symphonies, overtures and the opera Pike Chair that there creates. In the latter, an approach to the romanticism of the literary movement Sturm und Drang (in Spanish “storm and impetus”).
On one of his many European trips his mother dies while accompanying him1778). The anguish of mourning must be experienced in a total state of uncertainty regarding their economic situation. None of the courts and personalities who acclaimed him, offered him fees worthy of his skill, as the proud composer.
At this stage of his life, Mozart he pawned some of his things to pay off personal debts. To add insult to injury – and this will be a significant note in the Mozart biography Colloredohis employer in salzburg, treated him like one more in his court of servants. She ended up throwing him out with a kick to the rear by one of his assistants.
Mozart then decided to be a Viennese musicianand his rebellion introduces what many will imitate later: not depending on a patron or patron. ran 1781He was only twenty-five years old, and he had himself as his only support. Once in Viennastayed on the second floor of the family Weberwhich he had met on previous trips.
To live, he taught classes for some nobles, and provided concerts Y operas which were, without a doubt, the most significant source of its resources. The family atmosphere made her happy, especially the daughters of the lady, which led to her falling in love with Constance Weber. It is necessary to emphasize that, in those Viennese years he developed the most important works of his.
Indeed, Mozart there he wrote The Rape of the Seraglioa work with part of the text recited and not sung, such as the Operetta in Spain. Also the symphonies ranging from the number 36, Linz Symphonyuntil the final trilogy, which takes the numbers 39, 40 and 41made in the summer of 1788.
In the Mozart’s works one can already see an expressive intensity considered one more advance of the romantic spirit which will stand out among composers of the following century. he also writes Don Juan Y The flute magicalin whose presentations the popular success is reiterated.
Will face his rising prestige Antonio Salierienemy of Mozartwho is also credited with a history never proven poisoning. The rivalry is proven, something understandable between two musicians who competed for the favors of the imperial court.
best friend of his turned out Joseph Haydn“Papa Haydn” for Mozartwhose «Russian string quartets» inspired him to create a series of six dedicated to him. he crafted concerts for piano, fiddle, horn, clarinet and others, laying the foundations of the classical composition style.
In fact, in another fundamental mark of the mozart biographyin Vienna he writes fourteen of the twenty-three concerts that he dedicated to the keyboard in all his life.
While basking in this recognition from the Viennese, he boarded the Requiem Mass, commissioned by him Count Franz of Walsegg to display it as your own. Hurt by the circumstances of the assignment, the musician imagined that the matter of Requiem it is his own end and he has been poisoned.
With his head against the wall of his room and the handwritten score of the Requiem unfinished in bed, death reaches him December 5, 1791. Mozart he was thirty-five years old, and he left us more than six hundred plays…
Mozart | Mozart’s most important works
It is difficult to choose the best works of a musical genius as few have existed in history, even more so if in his scarce 35 years of life he wrote more than 620 works. Mozart was possessed of a true creative fury, there is no doubt, and he possessed an unusual talent. Choosing a few of his works based on their quality would be very difficult (and quite daring on my part), so we settle for reviewing his most important works.
Undoubtedly, one of them is Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, premiered in 1786. The work consists of three movements and a total duration of 30 minutes. It is considered one of Mozart’s most mature and best-assembled works and greatly marked the careers of other great composers such as Ludwig Van Beethoven.
Another of Mozart’s best works is the opera don giovannia mix of comedy, drama and supernatural themes that premiered in 1787. Don Giovanni is on the list of the best operas of all time along with other works by the composer that we can’t help but recommend: The Marriage of Figaro Y The magic Flute.
Lastly, to cite just three and not eternalize ourselves by praising his talent (you can see more interesting works in the previous section), we would like to cite the 40th symphony, in addition to being a majestic work, for being one of the few symphonies that Mozart wrote in a minor key. It was premiered in 1788, during the composer’s period of greatest success and activity.
Mozart | The Death of Mozart
Mozart died in 1791 at the age of 35 and, like so many other geniuses, they did not exactly have the happiest and most pleasant last days or the most desired death.
The last years in Mozart’s life were marked by great economic difficulties that forced him and his family to move house and continually take out loans. This situation was due, on the one hand, to the public’s taste for a more seasoned and sonorous type of interpreter instead of the traditional Viennese delicacy of Mozart.
On the other hand, the consequences of the war between Austria and Turkey, which greatly undermined the purchasing power of the aristocracy, the main supporters and source of income for artists like Mozart. In this period when Mozart composed his three…