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Wolfgang Amadeus
Mozart (1756-1791)
At the early age of 4 years Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart started to receive his musical education and
was taught by his father. At the age of 5 he was presented
as an infant prodigy and performed his first musical tour
through Europe. Mozart's career was closely linked to the
city of Vienna. Aged 6, he performed for the Austrian royals
at the Hall of Mirrors at Schloss
Schönnbrunn and enchanted Empress Maria Theresia
and her family with his talent and his liveliness. On this
tour through Europe it became clear that Mozart was not only
an excellent performer, but was also interested in composing
music. In 1765, his first Sonatas were published in Paris
in 1765.
Mozart moved to Vienna in 1781 aged 25. In the House of the
Teutonic Order (Deutschordenshaus; 1010, Singerstraße
7) he fell out with his employer, the Archbishop of Salzburg.
Mozart resigned his secure employment at Salzburg and opted
for a freelance career in Vienna.
Mozart's first months in Vienna were spent in a small pension
in the direct vicinity of St.
Peter's Church, a beautiful baroque church in the first
district. There, the composer fell in love with Konstanze
Weber, daughter to the establishment. The success of his
opera "The Abduction from the Seraglio" (Die Entführung
aus dem Serail) enabled him to marry - at St.
Stephen's Cathedral.
2 years later, Mozart and his family moved into the "Mozarthaus"
(1010, Domgasse 5) into a spacious apartment. Mozart was respected
and successful as a musician and happy in his marriage. His
years at 'Mozarthaus' would be the most productive period
in his live. He composed piano concerti, chamber music works
and the opera "The Marriage of Figaro" (Die Hochzeit
des Figaro). A year before his death, Mozart and his family moved
into another first district apartment. In spite of his success
the family was heavily in dept and Mozart worked frantically
to earn more money. "The Magic Flute" was composed
in this time and the famous unfinished Requiem, unfinished
as Mozart suddenly took ill and died on the 5th December 1791.
His remains received his last blessings in the 'Kruzifixkapelle'
in St. Stephen's
Cathedral. Parts of the Requiem were performed for the
first time during the wake at Michaelerkirche. Then, Mozart
was buried at St. Marx Cemetery. 60 years after his death
a monument was errected at the grave yard to commemorate the
great musician, 100 years after his death this memorial was
moved to the graves of honor (group 32 a, no. 55). First district's
Burggarten features
an impressive Mozart memorial!
