WOLFGANG

AMADEUS
MOZART
The story of one of the most famous child prodigys.
Why did I choose Mozart?

Well, there are many reasons for that; but the main reason for that is
because I am already quite familiarized with his life’s story, since I
am kind of a fan of his pieces myself. In fact, there it is, one more
reason for my decision. He is indeed my favorite erudite composer.
The other reason for my decision is lesser important, but still played
a role in it, is that many people at list know him by his name, so I
thought it would make things easier.
Mozart’s childhood

■ Despite Mozart’s age, when he was only about five years old, he already composed
some musical pieces, and, when he was six, he performed a presentation to Maximilian
III, the elector of Bavaria, and to the empress of Austria.
■ Since then, he used to travel through Europe alongside his father, Leopold, and his
sister, presenting pieces of music and surprising everyone with their talent.
■ Their astonishing presentations made them extremely famous, what made Mozart live
great part of his early life travelling, spending very little time home.
■ When he turned thirteen, he travelled to Italy with his father, where he learned about
Italian music, and composed his first opera, which couldn’t be performed because of
internal conflicts.
Mozart’s time in Italy

In Italy, Mozart were admitted as a court musician, and kept working there for around
four years. There, he learned much more about other musical techniques and styles and
tried out many of them. He composed many pieces like string quartet sonatas,
symphonies, serenades and operas.
After that time, in 1777 he decided to abandon his office to search for an more promisor
job.
■ After he left Italy, he and his mother traveled to Munich and later to Paris, where he did not fulfil
anything he wanted to.
■ Later, in the same year – 1779 – his mother passed away, and he went back to Salzburg as an organist.
■ During the time he passed there, he composed some other pieces, until his conflicts with the Archbishop
made him abandon his role and settle in Vienna.
■ There, he started working as a freelancer composer and teacher.
■ By that time, he created one of his most famous opera called “die entführung aus dem serail”.
■ In Vienna, he got orders of the emperor, and he married Constanze Weber, despite his father’s
disapproval.
The 1780s

■ During that period of time, Mozart and Constanze’s expensive way of life started to
have consequences. They started losing too much Money, despite Mozart’s success.
■ In 1785 Mozart met the poet Lorenzo da Ponde, with whom he collaborated in the
creations of two famous operas, one of the being Don Giovanni.
■ By the end of the decade, in 1787, José III named Mozart as his chamber composer; a
job that, despite its value and prestige, did not have an good salary. That situation made
Mozart get worse on his financial situation.
 Mozart’s last years
(1790-1791)
During Mozart’s last years he passed through an
extreme productive moment. During such
inspirational moments, he composed many
important pieces, such as the “Die Zauberflöte”
and many others. Despite his recovery from his
unstable financial situation, he felt extremely
stresses through that time, due to his overwork.
Mozart’s death

■ In December 15, 1971, thirty-five years old, Mozart ended

up dying prematurely, and the cause is controversial to this
day.
■ The official records of the time register that he died of
“fever and rash”. However, such records were not precise,
considering the poor medical technology of the time.
■ Some people theorize that, because of their rivalry, the
Italian composer, Antonio Salieri poisoned Mozart out of
envy.
■ Recent studies state that Mozart died ot of trichomoniasis
after eating raw pork meat.
Curiosities and effects of premature fame

■ Many people who met Mozart used to describe him as childish and unsophisticated, such as Salieri.
■ On his first presentation to the Austrian court, when he was six years old, he runned onto the
Austrian Empress a kissed her by surprise.
■ Mozart, in letters and even in some of his musical pieces, displayed sort of a scatological humor.
He used to send letters to familiars talking about feces and has songs that talk about it such as
“Leck Mich Im Arsch”. It is theorized that this sort of humors is derived from Mozart’s childish
behavior.
■ Mozart is considered one of the greatest composers in human history, inspiring many musicians,
from Beethoven to the romantic vanguard.
■ It wasn’t Mozart who finished the requiem. He passed away before finishing it, and his student,
Franz Xaver Süssmayr, had to complete it for him.
 ■ 1: Requiem
■ 2: The Magic Flute
Mozart’s ■ 3: Clarinet Concerto

most famous
■ 4: Symphony No. 41 “Jupiter”
■ 5: Serenade No. 13 “Eine kleine Nachtmusik”

pieces ■ My personal favourite: K. 622 for clarinet.

THANK YOU