Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is one of the greatest classical music composers , but do you know his life? Did you know that Mozart had an equally talented sister? Her name was Maria Anna Mozart, and despite being an exceptional pianist, at eighteen (the age of marriage at the time) she was no longer allowed to perform in public. Now let’s learn more about the biography and curiosities that you did not know about Mozart.
Mozart biography
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria , in 1756 . His father Leopold was a violinist and composer. Wolfgang (or Wolferl, as his family called him) was a child prodigy. His first musical piece he composed at the age of five; while at seven he published the first first and wrote his first opera when he was twelve years old. Quite a musical prodigy who at the age of 6 was already playing the piano and violin.
When he grew up, Mozart moved to Vienna and tried to earn a living as a pianist and composer . But he had a lot of trouble handling the fact that he was no longer a child prodigy, and the vast majority of musicians of the time performed before royalty as servants, something that Mozart’s genius never quite liked since he did not consider himself a nobody’s servant.
The composer died very young. In 1791 at the age of 35 and while he slept . His life, although short, was dedicated to music, composing all imaginable musical forms , from operas to symphonies, through concerts, masses and chamber music, being still considered a genius to this day.
Curiosities that you did not know about Mozart
In addition to the most important data in the biography of Mozart, the life of this classical composer is full of curious facts that you surely do not know. Are these:
The Mozart effect and the mystery of his death
The Mozart effect would consist of a temporary increase in cognitive faculties caused by listening to Mozart’s music. Additional benefits reported would be stress reduction and increased milk production in cows . Listening to the music of Mozart is also especially suitable for children, as it would benefit the growth of younger and premature babies.
Mozart died at the age of 35 and even today it is not known with certainty how he died. Among the 118 hypotheses formulated, the researchers argue that Mozart likely died of kidney failure or mercury poisoning. Another mystery about the composer’s death can be attributed to the Requiem he wrote, commissioned to commemorate the death of a nobleman and which ended up becoming the Requiem of his death, as he died during the composition process.
Mozart, dwarf or genius boy?
Mozart was the youngest of seven siblings, but only he and his older sister Maria Anna Mozart survived infancy. The two played together as Maria Anna was also a musical prodigy, even playing a duet for royalty.
He was left-handed and his real name was Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, but he himself changed the name Theophilus to the Latin version Amadeus.
When he was only eight years old, some members of the Royal Society gave him tests to see if he was a child or an adult with dwarfism. Daines Barrington, the lead member, became convinced he was just a boy when Mozart, in the middle of a piece, was distracted by a cat crossing the room.
Mozart’s works: talent, criticism and passion
Mozart knew how to listen to various genres and composers during his short life, but his references were Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel and Franz Joseph Haydn.
He was very critical of other artists and in particular with his works: he tended to find many flaws in each of his compositions.
His works brought him a considerable sum of money, but Mozart did not have a great sense of saving and was often forced to face considerable financial difficulties.
The sons of mozart
He had six children with his wife Constanze , but only two of them survived. None of Mozart’s surviving children were married or had children, so there are no direct descendants of Mozart.
