Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

(1756-1791)

Country: Austria

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart imitated his older sister from a young age by amusing himself at the clavier (a predecessor of the piano), when his father noted the child's prodigious ability he began teaching Mozart. By the age of five he was already competent on the keyboard and violin, and began writing musical compositions as well as performing before European nobility.

Mozart's father, Leopold was also a musician and was known as a minor composer and a notable teacher. In the year of Wolfgang's birth Leopold published an instructional book for the violin which was popular.

From the age of six Wolfgang and his sister Maria Anna travelled around Europe and performed as child prodigies before many courts in cities such as Munich, Mannheim, Paris, London and The Hague. Wolfgang became acquainted with many prominent composers of the era and studied their works. In London, around 1764, he visited Johann Christian Bach who had a significant influence in Mozart's musical development.

Mozart did the unthinkable in Rome; after hearing just two performances of Gregorio Allegri's Miserere in the Sistine Chapel, he was able to write the secret Vatican music from memory.

Mozart went on to become one of the most prolific and influential composers of the classical period, with more than 600 musical works encompassing symphonies, concertos, operas and choral music.

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