P. I. Tchaikovsky admitted in one of his diaries that no one was able to make him tremble with delight and cry so much, or feel so close to the ideal, as Mozart managed to do. Only thanks to his works did he understand

Wolfgang Mozart. Biography: childhood

The great composer in no way owes his talent to his mother, Maria Anna. But Leopold Mozart, the father, was a teacher, violinist and organist. Of the seven children in this family, only Wolfgang's older sister and himself survived. At first, the father practiced playing the clavier with his daughter, who showed musical talent. The boy always sat nearby and amused himself by choosing melodies. The father noticed this. And he began to engage in playful activities with his son. At the age of five, the boy was already freely composing plays, and at six he performed very well. complex works. Leopold was not against music, but he wanted his son’s life to be more prosperous and interesting than his. He decided to go on a speaking tour with the children.

Mozart's biography briefly: a concert journey

First they visited Vienna, Munich, then other European cities. After triumphant performances in London for a year, they received an invitation to Holland. The audience was amazed by the boy’s virtuosity on the harpsichord, organ and violin. The concerts lasted from four to five hours and, of course, were very tiring, especially since the father continued his son’s education. In 1766, the illustrious family returned to Salzburg, but the vacation was short. The musicians began to envy the boy and treated the 12-year-old genius as a real rival. The father decided that only in Italy could his son’s talent be appreciated. This time they went together.

Brief biography of Mozart: stay in Italy

Already 14-year-old Wolfgang’s concerts in major cities across the country were a stunning success. In Milan, he received an order for the opera “Mithridates, King of Pontus,” which he performed brilliantly. For the first time, the Bologna Academy elected such a young composer as its member. All the operas, symphonies and other works of Wolfgang, written during his stay in this country, testify to how deeply he was imbued with the peculiarities of Italian music. The father was sure that now the fate of his son would be arranged. But despite all the success, it was not possible to find work in Italy. The local nobility was wary of the originality of his talent.

Mozart's biography briefly: return to Salzburg

The hometown greeted the travelers rather unfriendly. The old count died, and his son turned out to be a cruel, domineering man. He humiliated and oppressed Mozart. Without his knowledge, Wolfgang could not participate in concerts; he was obliged to write only church music and minor works for entertainment. When the young man was already 22 years old, he had difficulty getting leave. And he and his mother went to Paris, hoping that his talent would be remembered there. But this attempt also did not yield results. In addition, in the French capital, unable to withstand the hardships, the composer’s mother died. Mozart returned to Salzburg and spent two more painful years there. And this was at a time when his new opera “Idomeneo, King of Crete” was performed with triumph in Munich. Her success strengthened Wolfgang’s decision not to return to a dependent position. The archbishop did not sign his letter of resignation, but despite this, the composer left for Vienna. He lived in this city until his last days.

Brief biography of Mozart: life in Vienna

Shortly after the move, Wolfgang married Constance Weber. To do this, he had to take the girl away from home in August 1782, since neither his father nor her mother gave consent to the marriage. At first, life in Vienna was difficult. But the success of “The Abduction from the Seraglio” again opened the doors of the salons and palaces of the city nobility to the composer. At this time, he managed to meet many famous musicians and make connections. This was followed by the operas “The Marriage of Figaro” and “Don Giovanni”, which had varying success. At the same time as The Magic Flute, Wolfgang also composed Requiem, commissioned by a count. However, the last composer did not have time to finish it. This was done using drafts by Süssmayer, a student of Mozart.

Amadeus Mozart. Biography: recent years

Wolfgang died for reasons unknown to this day in December 1791. Many musicians still support the legend that the composer was poisoned by Salieri. But there are no documents left that at least indirectly confirm this version. His orphaned family was so impoverished that they had no money for a decent funeral. Mozart was buried in a common grave. Where exactly he was buried has not been established.

The article is devoted to a brief biography of Mozart - famous composer and musician. Mozart was a representative of the Viennese classics. They made a huge contribution to the development musical culture all over the world. Mozart worked successfully in all genres, had an unsurpassed ear for music and the art of improvisation.

Mozart: first steps

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in 1756 in Salzburg. From the age of 3, under the guidance of his father, he began to study music and immediately showed extraordinary talent in this area. Mozart plays several musical instruments, composes himself and speaks confidently in front of an audience. There is an amazing case when a young musician was allowed to perform in Holland on special conditions. Music was strictly prohibited during Lent, but for the sake of Mozart they made an exception, justifying this as a manifestation of the “divine will”, thanks to which a wonderful child was born.
In 1762, six-year-old Mozart, together with his father and older sister, made a concert tour of European cities, enjoying great success. The following year, the first musical works of the young composer were published.
The first half of the 70s. Mozart spent time in Italy, where he diligently studied creativity famous musicians. At the age of 17 he was already the author of four operas and 13 symphonies, large quantity others musical works.
At the end of the 70s, Mozart became the court organist in Salzburg, but he was not satisfied with his dependent position. An energetic creative nature draws Mozart to further search and develop his talent.

Brief biography of Mozart: Viennese period

In 1781, Mozart moved to Vienna, where he found a life partner and got married. His opera “Idomeneo” was staged in Vienna, which received approval and represented a new direction in dramatic art. Mozart becomes a widely known Viennese performer and composer. At this time, he created works that are considered examples of his creativity - “The Marriage of Figaro” and “Don Giovanni”. The opera "The Abduction from the Seraglio", commissioned by Emperor Joseph II, became very popular in Germany.
In 1787, Mozart became the imperial court musician. Brilliant success and fame, however, do not give a musician much income. To support his family, he is forced to work more and more, without giving up the most “menial” work: Mozart gives music lessons, composes small works, plays at aristocratic evenings. Mozart's performance is amazing. He writes his most complex works in an incredibly short time.
Contemporaries noted the extraordinary soulfulness of Mozart's musical works, their inexpressible beauty and lightness. Mozart was considered one of the best performers, his concerts were always a great success.
He received offers of highly paid work at other royal courts, but the musician remained loyal only to Vienna.
In 1790, Mozart's financial situation became so dire that he was forced to leave Vienna for a short time to avoid persecution by creditors and to undertake a number of commercial performances.
Feeling enormous nervous and physical fatigue, Mozart continued to work on the commissioned Requiem mass for the funeral service. While working, he was haunted by a premonition that he was writing the mass for himself. The composer's premonitions were justified; he never managed to finish the work. The Mass was completed by his student.
Mozart died in 1791. The exact location of his burial is unknown. There is a common grave near Vienna for the poor, where Mozart was supposedly buried. There is a legend about the poisoning of a brilliant musician by his competitor, Salieri. A beautiful legend that has found many supporters is not confirmed by modern researchers of Mozart’s work. In 1997, an official court decision was made that Salieri was not guilty of Mozart's death.
Mozart's operas are among the most popular in the world in terms of productions and do not leave the leading stages. In total, Mozart's work includes over 600 musical works.

The national pride of Austria, the greatest mystery of the Creator, the symbol of the Genius is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. His life and death left more questions than answers. Its history is overgrown with legends and myths. Hundreds of books have been written about him. But it is unlikely that we will ever get closer to solving this phenomenon. The brilliant composer really has many secrets, and one of them is the so-called “Mozart Effect”. Scientists are racking their brains, trying to find an answer to the question, why exactly the music of a genius has such a beneficial effect on human health? Why, listening to his works, do we calm down and begin to think better? How much do patients suffering from serious illnesses feel better from Mozart’s music? One hundred thousand whys, to which even after hundreds of years no one can give an intelligible answer.

Brief biography Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and many interesting facts Read about the composer on our page.

short biography

Usually in the biography famous people childhood years are described in passing, mentioning some funny or tragic incidents that influenced the formation of character. But in the case of Mozart, the story about his childhood is a story about the concert and composition activities of a full-fledged musician and virtuoso performer, the author of instrumental works.

He was born on January 27, 1756 in the family of violinist and teacher Leopold Mozart. The father had a huge influence on the development of his son as a person and musician. All their lives they were bound by the most tender affection, even Wolfgang’s phrase is known: “After dad there is only God.” Wolfgang and his older sister Maria Anna, who was called Nannerl at home, never attended public school; all education, including not only music, but also counting, writing, reading, was given to them by their father. He was a born teacher, his methodological guide to learning to play the violin published dozens of times and for a long time considered the best.

From birth, little Wolfgang was surrounded by an atmosphere of creativity, musical sounds and constant employment. Father worked with Nannerl on harpsichord and violin, 3-year-old Wolfie watched them with jealousy and delight: well, when will dad let him practice? For him it was all a game - picking out melodies and harmonies by ear. Thus, while playing, his music studies began, to which he devoted himself completely.

According to Mozart's biography, already at the age of 4, he draws scribbles on music paper, which infuriates his father, but the anger quickly gives way to amazement - the notes, which look chaotic on paper, form a simple, but literate piece from the point of view of harmony. Leopold immediately understands the highest talent that God has awarded his son.

In those days, a musician could count on quite good life, if he finds a patron and gets a permanent job. For example, taking the position of bandmaster at the court or house of a noble nobleman. At that time, music was an integral part of social and social life. And Leopold decides to go and give performances in European cities in order to gain fame for his son so that later he can achieve a better fate. He expected now to gain attention to the child’s extraordinary talent.

The Mozarts (father, son and daughter) set off on their first journey at the beginning of 1762, when Wolfgang was 6 years old and his sister was 10. The miracle children met with the most enthusiastic reception everywhere, they amazed listeners with their performing skills. My father tried to make their performances as impressive as possible. Maria Anna performed the most technically complex musical pieces, which not every experienced harpsichordist can master. Wolfgang did not just play masterfully - he was blindfolded, covered the keyboard with a scarf, he played from sight, improvised. All efforts were devoted to creating a sensation and sticking in the memory of the listeners. And they were indeed invited a lot and often. These were mainly the houses of aristocrats and even crowned heads.

But there was another one in this interesting point. During all these travels from London to Naples, Wolfgang not only showed the public his generous talent - he also absorbed all the cultural and musical achievements that this or that city could provide him. Then Europe was fragmented, centers of culture flared up in different cities - and each had its own trends, musical styles, genres, preferences. Little Wolfgang could listen to all this, absorb it, process it with his brilliant mind. And as a result, the synthesis of all these musical layers gave impetus to the powerful movement that represented Mozart’s work.

Salzburg and Vienna

Alas, Leopold's plans were not destined to come true. The children grew up and no longer made such a strong impression. Wolfgang turned into a short young man, “just like everyone else,” and his past popularity rather got in the way. Neither his membership in the Bologna Academy, which he received at the age of 12, having brilliantly completed the task, nor the Order of the Golden Spur, awarded by the Catholic Pope himself, nor all-European fame made the career growth of the young composer easy.

For some time he served as bandmaster for the archbishop in Salzburg. A difficult relationship with this arrogant man forced Wolfgang to take orders from Vienna, Prague, and London. He strived for independence, disrespectful treatment hurt him painfully. Frequent travel led to the desired goal - one day Archbishop Colloredo fired Mozart, accompanying the dismissal with a humiliating gesture.

He eventually moved to Vienna in 1781. Here he will spend the last 10 years of his life. This period would mark the flowering of his creativity, his marriage to Constance Weber, and here he would write his most significant works. The Viennese did not immediately accept him, and in general, after the success " Weddings of Figaro“In 1786, the remaining premieres took place quietly.He was always received much warmer in Prague.

At that time, Vienna was the musical capital of Europe, its residents were spoiled by an abundance of musical events, and musicians from all over the world flocked there. Competition among composers was very high. But the confrontation between Mozart and Antonio Salieri, which we can see in the famous film “Amadeus” by Milos Forman, and even earlier in Pushkin, does not correspond to reality. On the contrary, they treated each other with great respect.

He also had a close and touching friendship with Joseph Haydn, dedicated beautiful string quartets to him. Haydn, in turn, endlessly admired Wolfgang's talent and subtle musical taste, his extraordinary ability to feel and convey feelings like a true Artist.

Despite the fact that Mozart never managed to achieve a position at court, his work gradually began to bring him considerable income. He was an independent person who placed the honor and dignity of a person above all else. He didn’t reach into his pocket for a sharp word, and in general directly said everything he thought. This attitude could not leave anyone indifferent; envious people and ill-wishers appeared.

Illness and death

A slight creative decline, which began in 1789-90, quickly gave way to active work at the beginning of 1791. At the end of winter he made changes to Symphony No. 40. In the spring, the opera La Clemenza di Titus was written and then staged in the summer, commissioned by the Czech court for the coronation day of Leopold II. In September, a joint project was completed with Emanuel Schikaneder, a fellow member of the Masonic lodge - Singspiel " magical flute" In July of this year, he received an order for a funeral mass from a mysterious envoy...

At the beginning of autumn, Wolfgang begins to complain of illness. Gradually they intensify. Mozart's last performance was dated November 18 - the opening day of the next lodge of the Secret Society. After that he fell ill and never got up. Until now, medical scientists are arguing about the causes of the disease and diagnosis. Most often, the version of poisoning is rejected, but not completely ruled out. Over the past centuries, there are no more authentic documents; on the contrary, many of the statements of Constanta and other witnesses are becoming less and less credible.

The composer was treated by the best doctor in Vienna at that time; many of his methods are now presented as aggravating the patient’s condition, but at that time they were widely used in medicine. On the night of December 4-5 he dies...

During his lifetime, he was a dapper fashionista, leading a somewhat freer lifestyle than he could afford. Many notes have been preserved in which he turned to friends with a request to borrow money for another musical project. But he never learned to manage money wisely. And when the question of a funeral arose, it turned out that the family had no money for it.

Baron van Swieten paid for the funeral in full; he gave an amount sufficient for burial according to the 3rd category - in a separate coffin, but in a common grave. It was a common practice back then, there was nothing strange about it. Except for one thing - even the burial place of the greatest son of man has not been preserved. At that time, funeral monuments were placed outside the cemetery fence.

Interesting facts about Mozart

• Mozart wrote half of his total number of symphonies between the ages of 8 and 19.
• In 2002, on the anniversary of September 11, choirs all over the planet sang "Requiem" by Mozart within 24 hours to honor the memory of those killed.
• In the largest-ever recording project dedicated to loneliness, Philips Classic released 180 CDs in 1991 containing a complete set of authentic works by Mozart. It includes over 200 hours of music.
• Mozart wrote more music in his short career than many other composers who lived much longer.
• The relationship with the Archbishop of Salzburg ended when his secretary kicked Mozart in the back.
• From Mozart's biography we learn that the brilliant composer spent a total of 14 out of 35 years traveling.
• Leopold Mozart described the birth of his son as a "miracle from God" because he seemed too small and weak to survive.
• The term "Mozart's ear" describes a defect in the ear. Researchers believe that Mozart and his son, Franz, had a congenital ear defect.
• The composer had phenomenal hearing and memory; even as a child, he could remember a work that was complex in form and harmony from one listen, and then write it down without a single mistake.
• In the 1950s, French phoniatrist Alfred Tomatis conducted scientific experiments during which he proved that listening to Mozart's music could improve a person's IQ; he coined the term “Mozart Effect”; it has also been recognized as having a therapeutic effect on cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism and many neurological diseases, this is scientifically proven.
• Wolfgang Mozart's middle name, Theophilus, means "beloved of God" in Greek.
• Mozart's influence on western music deep. Joseph Haydon noted that "posterity will not see such talent even in 100 years."
• Mozart wrote his first symphony when he was only 8 years old, and his opera when he was 12.
• Wolfgang's father forbade him to marry Constance Weber, suspecting her family's selfish interest in Mozart, who was taking his first confident steps in Vienna. But he did not listen for the first time in his life, and against the wishes of his father, he married in August 1782. Some scholars portray her as fickle, others look at her with more sympathy. Eighteen years after Wolfgang's death, she remarried and helped her new husband write a book about Mozart.

• Mozart's famous partnership with Lorenzo da Ponte resulted in the opera Le nozze di Figaro, based on the play by Beaumarchais. Their collaboration is one of the most famous in music history;
• Once in Vienna, little Wolfgang performed in the palace for Empress Maria Theresa. After the performance, he played with her daughters, one of whom was especially affectionate towards him. Wolfgang then began to ask for her hand in all seriousness. It was Marie Antoinette, the future queen of France.
• Mozart was a member of the Masonic lodge, it was a secret society uniting the most progressive people of his time. Over time, Wolfgang began to move away from the ideas of his brothers, mainly due to religious differences.

• The composer's last word Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) before his death was "Mozart".
• In 1801, gravedigger Joseph Rothmayer allegedly dug up Mozart's skull from a cemetery in Vienna. However, even after various tests, it remains unknown whether the skull actually belonged to Mozart. He is currently locked away in the Mozarteum Foundation in Salzburg, Austria;
• Baron van Swieten gave 8 florins 56 kreuzers for Mozart's funeral - this is the amount Wolfgang once spent on the humorous funeral of his starling.
• Mozart was buried in a "mass grave" in St. Marx. A "common grave" is not the same as a pauper's grave or a mass grave, but a grave for people who were not aristocrats. One of the main differences is that after 10 years the common graves were excavated, but the graves of the aristocrats were not.
• Researchers have hypothesized at least 118 causes of Mozart's death, including rheumatic fever, influenza, trichinosis, mercury poisoning, kidney failure and streptococcal infection.
• According to several biographers, Mozart was a small man with strong eyes. As a child, Wolfgang suffered from smallpox, which left scars on his face. He was thin and pale with fine hair and loved elegant clothes.
• According to Mozart's wife, Constanze, at the end of his life, Mozart believed that he had been poisoned and that he was composing his Requiem for himself.
• It is believed that in “Requiem” he managed to write only the first 7 parts, and the rest was completed by his student Franz Xaver Süssmayr. But there is a version according to which Wolfgang could have completed “Requiem” several years earlier. Scholars still debate which parts Mozart actually wrote.
• Mozart and his wife had six children, of whom only two survived infancy. Both sons had no family and no children.
• Mozart became increasingly popular after his death. In fact, as 20th-century biographer Maynard Solomon notes, his music was truly appreciated posthumously.
• The composer was born a Catholic and remained one throughout his life.
• Mozart was a tenor. During chamber concerts in the ensemble, he usually played the viola. He was also left-handed.
• The famous physicist Albert Einstein loved music very much. He studied the violin, but only really got into it after he “fell in love with Mozart’s sonatas.”
• Einstein believed that Mozart's music required technical perfection from him, and then he began to study intensively.
• Constanza, Mozart's wife, destroyed many of his sketches and drawings after the composer's death.
• Mozart had several pets, including a dog, a starling, a canary and a horse.

Mozart. Letters

Time has preserved many portraits of Mozart made by different artists, but they are all very different from each other, it is difficult to determine whether among them there were those closest to the original. But the composer’s letters, which he wrote throughout his life, being constantly on the move, are perfectly preserved - letters to his mother, sister, “dearest father,” cousin, wife Constanze.

Reading them, one can create a genuine psychological image of a genius; he appears before us as if alive. Here is a 9-year-old boy who is sincerely happy about the comfortable chaise and the fact that the cab is driving fast. Here he conveys ardent greetings and low bows to everyone he knows. It was a gallant age, but Mozart knows how to show respect without excessive pomposity and floridity, without losing dignity. Letters addressed to relatives are full of sincerity and trust, emotion and free use of syntax, because they were not written for history. This is their real value.

In his mature years, Wolfgang developed his own epistolary style. It is obvious that he has a literary gift no less than a musical one. Having a superficial command of several languages ​​(German, French, Italian, Latin), he easily creates new word forms from them, plays with words with humor, makes jokes, and rhymes. His thoughts flow easily and naturally.

It should be noted that since the letters were written German has come a long way in development from local dialects to a national language. Therefore, much of them will seem not entirely clear to contemporaries. For example, it was then customary to discuss digestion problems publicly. There was nothing out of the norm in this. The same with grammar and spelling - Mozart followed his own rules, and perhaps did not even think about it. In one paragraph he could write the name of a person three times - and all three times in different ways.

In Russia during the Soviet era, Mozart scholars only partially quoted some of his letters - carefully edited. In 2000, a complete edition of the Mozart family correspondence was published.

Personal Quotes

• “I write like a pig” (about how much he writes).
• “I don’t pay attention to anyone’s praise or blame. I just follow my own feelings";
• "Since death, when we come to consider it, is true goal of our existence, I have, during the last few years, developed such a close relationship with this best and most faithful friend of mankind that his image not only no longer frightens me, but is actually very reassuring and comforting! And I thank my God for kindly giving me the opportunity to learn that death is the key that opens the door to our true happiness."
• “Every time I go to bed, I remember that it is possible (no matter how Young I am) that I will not be destined to see tomorrow. And yet not a single person out of everyone who knows me will say that I am gloomy or sad in my communication...” (April 4, 1787).
• “People make the mistake of thinking that my art comes easily to me. I assure you, no one has devoted as much time and thought to composition as I have.”

Creative heritage

Researchers and biographers are amazed by Mozart’s monstrous performance. Considering his busy work, rehearsals, concerts, tours, private lessons, he managed to write - to order and at the behest of his soul. He composed music in all genres that existed at that time. Some works, especially early ones from childhood, have been lost. In just his less than 36 years, he wrote more than 600 works. Almost all of them are absolute gems of symphonic, concert, chamber, opera and choral music. Over the past 2 centuries, interest in them has only increased. He significantly developed and transformed many genres, setting a new level and guidelines in art.

For example, in his operas “The Marriage of Figaro”, “ Don Juan", "The Magic Flute" dramaturgy stepped far beyond the traditional for that time musical performances. The plot acquires a stronger semantic load; often the composer takes an active part in the development of the libretto and gives recommendations on constructing the plot. Every image characters receives a more detailed psychological portrayal, becomes “alive” not only with the help of texts, but also through expressive musical means.

His symphony also receives strong dramatic development. In many of them one can see similarities with the operatic principle of construction - reliance on conflict, confrontation, end-to-end development. On the other hand, the overture to " The Marriage of Figaro"is so perfect in form that it is performed separately in concerts as an orchestral piece.

Symphonyism, as the highest type of musical thinking in Mozart’s work, affirms the canons of the classical style. However, in general, all of it creative path went through an evolution from Rococo (mainly in children's works), then through Viennese classicism to the preconditions for early romanticism. One can only imagine what the music of this genius, so emotional, enthusiastic, and sincere, would have been like if he had lived to see the era of romantic heyday.

Among Mozart's musical works there are 41 symphonies, 27 piano concertos, 5 violin concertos, 27 concert arias, 23 string quartets and 22 operas.

The image of Mozart in theatre, cinema, television and other media projects

The music of the brilliant composer can be heard everywhere. Based on Mozart's biography and his work, hundreds of feature films and documentaries, television projects, and a theater play have been produced. The most significant works about him are considered:

• “Little tragedies” by A.S. Pushkin (cycle of short plays);
• “Amadeus” (1979) a play by Peter Schaffer, which formed the basis for the script of the famous film by Milos Forman
• "Amadeus" - 8 Oscar awards and many awards and nominations in the field of cinema, including leading role starred Tom Hulse (Mozart) and F. Murray Abraham (Salieri).

Here is just an incomplete list of television projects about Mozart:

• t/s “Mozart in the Jungle” - USA (original title);
• t/s “Avventura Romantica” (2016), performed by Lorenzo Zingone (as young Mozart);
• t/s “Now I will sing” (2016), performed by Lorenzo Zingone;
• t/s “La Fiamma” (2016), performed by Lorenzo Zingone;
• "Stern Dad (2015)" TV episode, performed by Chris Marquette (as Mozart);
• "Mr. Peabody and the Sherman Show";
• “Mozart” (2016), performed by Avner Perez (adult W. Mozart);
• "Fantastic" (2015);
• "Mozart vs. Skrillex (2013) TV episode, performed by Nice Peter (Mozart);
• Mozart l "opéra Rock 3D (2011) (TV) Performed by Michelangelo Loconte;
• "Mozart's Sister" (2010), performed by David Moreau;
• "Etida" (2010), Luka Hrgovic as Mozart;
• "Mozart" (2008) TV series;
• "In Search of Mozart" (2006);
• "The Genius of Mozart" performed by Jack Tarleton";
• t/s "The Simpsons";
• t/s “Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart” (2002);
• "Wolfgang A. Mozart" (1991);
• "Mozart and Salieri" (1986) TV episode;
• “Mozart - his life with music” d/f.

Once you have become acquainted with this Great Destiny, it is no longer possible to forget about it. This is what helps the soul to rise, to retreat from the ordinary and tune in to the contemplation of eternity... Mozart is the greatest gift of the Creator to humanity.

Video: watch a film about Mozart

Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus is an outstanding Austrian composer; virtuoso musician; violinist, organist and harpsichordist. According to contemporaries, he had perfect hearing, memory and the ability to improvise. Mozart was a talented composer and conductor. He belongs to the Vienna Classical School of Music, and his collection of musical works includes more than 600 opuses. The future composer was born on January 27, 1756 in Salzburg into a family of hereditary musicians. Since childhood, he studied playing the organ, violin and harpsichord.

In 1762, his father took him and his sister Maria Anna on an artistic journey. They visited Vienna, Paris, London, Munich and many other cities. It is believed that in the same year, six-year-old Mozart wrote his first work. The music of the little genius could not leave listeners indifferent. Already in 1763 his first sonatas were published. Mozart was only 13 years old when he became seriously interested in the works of such outstanding masters as Handel, Durante, and Stradella. The period of his stay in Italy, from 1770 to 1774, was especially fruitful.

There he met the then popular master J. Mysliveček, who had a great influence on his work. He improved in polyphony with the composer D. B. Martini. His operas were staged one after another in Milan. At the age of 14 he was already awarded the papal order. In 1778 his mother died. This was not the easiest period in the musician’s life. It was characterized by material difficulties and fruitless journeys. Despite this, Mozart wrote the “Paris” Symphony, 6 keyboard sonatas, 12 ballet numbers, and a concerto for flute and harp.

In 1779, in collaboration with Haydn, he was appointed court organist. An important milestone in his life was the opera Idomeneo, which was a huge success. At the age of 27 he married Constanze Weber. At that time he already lived in Vienna and was quite popular in musical circles. He held public author concerts, staged operas, and worked on new compositions. The opera The Marriage of Figaro, which premiered in May 1786, became a huge success. A year later, in collaboration with L. da Ponte, he created another “loud” opera - “Don Giovanni”.

Some of the composer's operas remained unfinished, since he died at an early age. IN last years During his life, he wrote plays to order, taught music and replaced L. Hofmann as conductor. Mozart died in December 1791 at the age of 35 for a reason that still remains unclear and causes heated debate. There is a myth that he was poisoned by A. Salieri, but there is no evidence of this.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (full name — Johann Chrysostomos Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)- one of greatest composers of all times and peoples. Mozart in early childhood showed virtuosity in playing the harpsichord, and by the age of 6 he played like no other adult of that time.

short biography

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born January 27, 1756 in Salzburg (Austria). His father - Leopold Mozart, violinist and composer in the court chapel of the Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg, Count Sigismund von Strattenbach. His mother - Anna Maria Mozart (Pertl), daughter of the commissioner-trustee of the almshouse in St. Gilgen.

Of the seven children from the Mozart marriage, only two survived: a daughter Maria Anna, whom friends and relatives called Nannerl, and son Wolfgang Amadeus. His birth almost cost his mother her life. Only after some time was she able to get rid of the weakness that made her fear for her life.

Early childhood

Both children's musical abilities were evident at a very early age. At the age of seven, Nannerl began receiving harpsichord lessons from her father. These lessons had a huge impact on little Wolfgang, who was about three years old: he sat down at the instrument and could amuse himself for a long time with the selection of harmonies.

In addition, he memorized certain passages of musical pieces,
which I heard and could play them on the harpsichord.

At the age of 4, my father began learning small pieces and minuets on the harpsichord with Amadeus Mozart. Almost immediately Wolfgang learned to play them well. Soon he developed a desire for independent creativity: Already at the age of five he was composing small plays, which my father wrote down on paper.

Mozart's first successes

Wolfgang's very first compositions were "Andante in C major" And "Allegro in C major" for the clavier, which were composed between the end January and April 1761.

The father was the best teacher and educator for his son: he gave his children an excellent education at home. They had never gone to school in their lives. The boy was always so devoted to what he was forced to study that he forgot about everything, even music. For example, when I learned to count, the chairs, walls and even the floor were covered with numbers written in chalk.

Conquest of Europe

In 1762 Leopold Mozart decided to amaze Europe with his gifted children and went with them on an artistic journey: first to Munich and Vienna, then to other cities in Germany. Little Mozart, who was barely turned 6 years, stood on stage in a shiny doublet, sweating under a powdered wig.

When he sat down at the harpsichord, he was almost invisible. But how he played! The Germans, Austrians, French, Czechs and English, experienced in music, listened. They did not believe that a small child was capable of playing so masterfully, and even composing music.

In January, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wrote his first four sonatas for harpsichord and violin, which Leopold sent to print. He believed that the sonatas would create a great sensation: on the title page it was indicated that these were the works of a seven-year-old child.

Over the course of four years, while traveling around Europe, Wolfgang Amadeus turned from an ordinary child into ten-year-old composer, which shocked the Mozarts’ friends and neighbors when the latter returned to their native Salzburg.

Life in Italy

Mozart spent 1770-1774 in Italy. In 1770 in Bologna he met an exceptionally popular composer in Italy at that time Josef Myslivecek. The influence of “The Divine Bohemian” turned out to be so great that later, due to the similarity of style, some of his works were attributed to Mozart, including the oratorio "Abraham and Isaac".

In 1771 in Milan, again with the opposition of theater impresarios, Mozart’s opera was nevertheless staged "Mithridates, King of Pontus" which was received by the public with great enthusiasm. His second opera was given the same success. "Lucius Sulla", written in 1772.

Moving to Vienna

Having already returned to his native Salzburg as an adult, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart could not get along with the oppressive archbishop, who saw him only as a servant and tried in every possible way to humiliate him.

In 1781, unable to withstand the oppression, Mozart went to Vienna, where he began giving concerts. He composed a lot during this period, wrote a comic opera "The Abduction from the Seraglio" on a Turkish theme, since in Vienna in the 18th century everything Turkish was in fashion, especially music.

This was the happiest period of Mozart's life: he fell in love with Constance Weber and was going to marry her, and his music was full of feelings of love.

"The Marriage of Figaro"

4 years later he created an opera "The Marriage of Figaro" based on the play by Beaumarchais, which was considered revolutionary and was banned in France for a long time. Emperor Joseph was convinced that all dangerous parts were removed from the production, and that Mozart’s music was very cheerful.

As contemporaries wrote, the theater was packed to capacity during the performance of The Marriage of Figaro. The success was extraordinary, the music captivated everyone. The audience greeted Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The next day, all of Vienna sang his melodies.

"Don Juan"

This success contributed to the composer being invited to Prague. There he presented his new opera - "Don Juan", which premiered in 1787. She was also highly appreciated and later admired Charles Gounod, Ludwig van Beethoven, Richard Wagner.

Return to Vienna

After his triumph in Prague, Mozart returned to Vienna. But there they treated him without the same interest. “The Abduction from the Seraglio” was filmed a long time ago, and no other operas were staged. And by this time the composer wrote 15 more symphony concerts, composed three symphonies which are considered the greatest today. Financial situation Day by day it became more and more difficult, he had to give music lessons.

The lack of serious orders depressed Wolfgang Amadeus; he felt that his strength was at its limit. In recent years, he created another opera - an unusual fairy tale "Magical flute" which had religious overtones. It was later identified as Masonic. The opera was very well received by the public.

Last period of life

As soon as The Magic Flute was performed, Mozart enthusiastically began working on Requiem, which was ordered by a mysterious stranger in all black. This work occupied him so much that he even intended not to accept any more students until the Requiem was completed.

However December 6, 1791 At the age of 35, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died of illness. An accurate and reliable diagnosis is currently unknown. The controversy surrounding the circumstances of Mozart's death continues to this day, despite the fact that almost 225 years have passed since the composer's death.

Work on the unfinished "Requiem", stunning with its mournful lyricism and tragic expressiveness, was completed by his student Franz Xaver Süssmayer, who previously took some part in composing the opera "The Mercy of Titus".