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 His Birth and Name
Mozart was born in Salzburg on January 27, 1756, the youngest child of the composer Leopold Mozart and his wife Maria Anna. Baptized as Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, he later came to use “Amadeus,” the Latin translation of the Greek “Theophilus” (“devotee of God”).
Early Years on Tour
A musical prodigy, Mozart traveled throughout Europe with his family. He gave his first public performance at age 5 in Munich. Patrons delighted in his compositional ability as well as his keyboard and violin skills. In 1769, Mozart and his father left for Italy so the 13-year-old boy could learn to write opera.
Leopold abandoned his own composing and devoted himself completely to nurturing Mozart’s genius. After spending 1774-1777 in Salzburg, Mozart traveled to Mannheim and Paris with his mother. Maria Anna died before they returned home. The father-son relationship grew tense when Leopold blamed Mozart for her death. Leopold’s controlling tendencies, his disapproval of Mozart’s plan to marry Constanze, and his anger at his son’s dismissal by Archbishop Colloredo added to the tension between them. By the time Wolfgang moved to Vienna in 1781, he and his father rarely corresponded.
 Mozart and the Webers
In 1777, while touring Mannheim with his mother, Mozart had met the Weber family. He became infatuated with the older daughter, Aloysia, a singer. In Vienna in 1781, released from his service to the Archbishop, Mozart rented a room in the Webers’ house. With Aloysia now married, Mozart became attracted to her younger sister Constanze. Mozart married Constanze Weber on August 4, 1782, despite his father’s protests.
Mozart’s Letters
Mozart’s letters document his life and his creative personality. In some letters, especially to his sister Nannerl, he played games with language, writing upside down or putting his words out of order. Letters that Mozart wrote have been preserved, but we have few of the letters he received.
Mozart and the Masons
Mozart was admitted to a Masonic Lodge in late 1784, and attained the rank of Master Mason. He wrote Masonic cantatas and funeral music, in addition to Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute), a singspiel that is generally recognized for its Masonic symbols and themes.
Financial Struggles
While far from destitute, the Mozarts were incapable of living within their means, so they fell into debt. Mozart took out loans, even though he taught lessons, published as often as possible for immediate payment, and was appointed dance composer for the Viennese court (1787). Many debts were repaid in his lifetime. Constanze settled the rest after his death.
Mozart’s Last Year
Mozart was at work on Die Zauberflöte when he was commissioned to write a Requiem in honor of Count Walsegg’s wife, who had died in February 1791. Mozart began sketching the Requiem, but stopped to write the opera La clemenza di Tito (The Clemency of Titus), commissioned in celebration of Leopold II’s coronation in Prague. Mozart attended its September premiere. He fell ill on this trip, and his condition worsened upon his return to Vienna. Mozart died in the night on December 5, 1791. The unfinished Requiem was eventually completed by Süssmayr, his student.
—Michael Chiappardi, Production Associate
To learn more about Mozart, download the full study guide here.
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