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Mozart Facts

Mozart Facts
Mozart was a composer and pianist famous for learning to play piano by the age of only three, for creating more than 600 works in his lifetime, and for being one of the greatest composers in history. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on January 27th, 1756 to Leopold Mozart, a minor composer and teacher, and Anna Maria Pertl Mozart in Salzburg, Austria (Holy Roman Empire at the time). Leopold taught his children to play music while very young, and Mozart was composing his own music by the time he was five years old. From the age of six years onward Mozart performed all over Europe, and went on to compose some of the most famous and cherished musical works in history.
Interesting Mozart Facts:
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's name for baptism was Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was able to write music before he could write words.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's nickname was "Wolfie".
Both Mozart and his sister Nannerl were considered to be child prodigies of music, performing in various locations in Europe from 1762 to 1773.
Between the ages of 8 and 19 Mozart composed half of the symphonies he would create in his lifetime.
Despite Mozart's talent, it was difficult for him to earn a living. By the age of 20 he was considered the most famous composer in Europe but he had trouble finding a job, leaving him to struggle most of his life.
Mozart worked as a court musician for the archbishop of Salzburg for a while, it didn't last because Mozart was not present as much as the archbishop wanted.
When Mozart was only a young child he performed for Empress Maria Theresa in Vienna. Mozart asked the Empress if he could marry one of her daughters, who was very young. The little girl was Marie Antoinette, who went on to become the Queen of France.
Mozart married Constanze Weber on August 4th, 1782. They had six children together but only two of their children lived past infancy. Their children were Raimund Leopold, Karl Thomas Mozart, Johann Thomas Leopold, Theresia Constanzia Adelheid Friedericke Maria Anna, Anna Maria, and Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart.
In his lifetime Mozart composed more than 600 musical works. His most famous and treasured compositions include 22 operas, 18 masses, 5 violin concertos, 27 concert arias, 41 symphonies, 27 piano concertos, and 23 string quartets.
As a child Mozart was given a very high honor from the Pope while in Rome - the Order of the Golden Spur.
Mozart's main rival was another composer named Antonio Salieri. Many years after Mozart's untimely death at the age of almost 36, Salieri claimed to have poisoned him. There is no proof to back up the claim.
Mozart's two most famous operas were The Marriage of Figaro (1786) and Don Giovanni (1787).
In September 1791 Mozart became ill in Prague. He died on December 5, 1791 while trying to finish his Requiem. He was survived by two sons and his wife, who reportedly climbed into his bed after he died, hoping to become ill with whatever killed him so that she could join him.


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