Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (christened Johannes Chrysostomos Wolfgang Gotlieb Mozart) was born in Salzburg, Austria in January, 1756. He was one of two children of Leopold and Anna Maria Mozart who survived infancy (they had seven children in all). From all accounts, his parents’ marriage was a happy one. Young Wolfgang was also completed devoted to his mother, by far the more gentle of his parents. Leopold was a composer and violinist of note in his own right, and so young Wolfgang was brought into a musical environment from the start.

Many details of his life are well known, and if you are interested, you can find out much more about Mozart through an internet search or by visiting your local library. Below, however, is a list of highlights of his life and career:

• 1760 (age 4): Mozart receives his first harpsichord lessons
• 1761 (age 5): first known compositions by Mozart
• 1762 (age 6): takes his first tour as a performing keyboard virtuoso (along with his sister, Maria Anna (nicknamed"Nannerl"), and father
• 1764: Mozart performs before King Louis XI in Paris; publishes his first music; later that year, travels to London, where he meets George III, and J.C. Bach
• 1768: Mozart writes his first opera, La finta semplice, which does not receive performances
• 1769: Mozart is appointed to an unpaid position of concertmaster in the Salzburg court
• 1770: travels to Rome, arriving just before Easter; admitted to the Accademia Filarmonica, and awarded a diploma; first major opera, Mitridate, performed in Milan later that year
• 1771: receives a diploma from the Accademia Filarmonica in Verona; travels throughout Italy giving numerous concerts; return to Salzburg in December
• 1772: appointed concertmaster, this time a paid position, in Salzburg
• 1773: famous motet Exsultate, jubilate, performed in Milan
• 1777: Mozart falls in love with Aloisia Weber, in Mannheim
• 1778: Mozart leaves Mannheim for Paris; his mother dies there in June; Mozart is given an additional appointments as court organist for the Salzburg Archbishop, and a generous salary, to complement his position as concertmaster
• 1781: Mozart falls in love with Aloisia Weber’s younger sister, Constanze; Mozart and Clementi have a famous piano contest before Joseph II and the Russian Grand Duchess Maria Feodorovna
• 1782: Mozart and Constanza marry
• 1783: Mozart’s first son is born (Raimund Leopold), but dies only a few weeks later; Mozart works on the Mass in C minor, K. 427; Mozart takes ill
• 1784: a second son is born; Mozart takes ill again
• 1785: Haydn hears Mozart’s string quartets which are dedicated to him; premier of Piano Concerto in D minor, K. 466
• 1786: Mozart performs his last known academy concert in March; Le nozze di Figaro premiered; third son is born (lives only a month)
• 1787: "Prague" Symphony premiered in Prague in January; Don Giovanni premiered; daughter is born; father Leopold dies
• 1788: daughter dies in June; last three symphonies written and performed (no. 39, 40, 41)
• 1789: another daughter is born and dies; Cosí fan tutte written (does not premier publicly until 1790)
• 1791: Mozart’s last child (Franz Xaver Wolfgang) is born in July; begins to work on the Requiem; Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) premiered; Mozart falls ill and takes to bed; Süssmayer is given instruction on how to complete the Requiem; Mozart dies, in December, of an unspecified illness.

© 2003 Carol Traupman-Carr