Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on January 27, 1756, in Salzburg, which is now part of Austria, but at the time was the capital of the Archbishopric of Salzburg, a state part of the Holy Roman Empire. He was the youngest of seven children, though only he and his elder sister Maria Anna ('Nannerl') survived infancy. His father, Leopold Mozart, was a minor composer, teacher, and Vice Kapellmeister to the court orchestra of the Archbishop of Salzburg.

In December 1762, six-year-old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his older sister Maria Anna Mozart, known as 'Nannerl', began their first European tour as child prodigies. Accompanied by their father Leopold, the trio traveled across Europe giving concerts to royalty and nobles. They performed before Austria's Emperor Francis I and the Empress Maria Theresa at the Imperial Court in Vienna, showcasing Wolfgang's extraordinary talent for the keyboard and his compositions.

On January 26, 1770, the first opera composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, titled 'Mitridate, re di Ponto', premiered in Milan, Italy. Mozart was only 14 years old at the time. The opera, which was based on a libretto by Vittorio Amedeo Cigna-Santi, demonstrated Mozart's incredible skill in musical drama and orchestration at such a young age. The premiere was a success and marked a significant milestone in his career as an operatic composer.

'Idomeneo' premiered on March 16, 1781, at the Residenz Theater in Munich. It is an Italian opera seria by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, written when he was 24. The opera was one of the most ambitious works he had produced to that date, and it showcased his mastery over the opera seria form, blending tradition with new dramatic elements. The success of 'Idomeneo' further cemented Mozart's reputation as one of the leading composers of his time.

On August 4, 1782, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart married Constanze Weber in the St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna. Constanze was the third daughter of the Weber family, musical and theatrical acquaintances of the Mozarts. Despite his father's initial disapproval of the match, the marriage proceeded and proved to be a loving union, though fraught with financial difficulties. Constanze would later play a crucial role in preserving and promoting Mozart's musical legacy after his death.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera 'The Marriage of Figaro' premiered on May 1, 1786, at the Burgtheater in Vienna. The opera, with a libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte, was an adaptation of a play by Pierre Beaumarchais. Despite the controversial subject matter of the play, which criticized the social classes, Mozart's opera was a great success. It is known for its rich character development, humor, musical complexity, and is now considered one of the greatest operas of all time.

The opera 'Don Giovanni,' one of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's most renowned works, premiered on October 29, 1787, at the Estates Theatre in Prague. The opera is set to an Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. 'Don Giovanni' blends elements of comedy, tragedy, and the supernatural, and is acclaimed for its profound music and dramatic depth. The premiere was a major success and the opera has remained a staple of the operatic repertoire worldwide.

The premiere of 'The Magic Flute' ('Die Zauberflöte') took place on September 30, 1791, at the Freihaus-Theater auf der Wieden in Vienna. Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and with a libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder, the opera is noted for its Masonic elements, fantastical story, and brilliant music which complexity appeals to both scholars and the lay audience alike. Despite Mozart's declining health, this opera enjoyed immediate popularity and contributes significantly to his legacy.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart passed away on December 5, 1791, in Vienna, Austria, at the age of 35. The exact cause of his death remains a subject of debate among historians and medical experts, with theories ranging from rheumatic fever to poisoning. His premature death left many of his works, such as the 'Requiem,' unfinished. Mozart's impact on classical music is immeasurable, and his death marked the loss of one of the most talented and influential composers in history.

After Mozart's death on December 5, 1791, his final composition, the Requiem in D minor, was left unfinished. It was completed by his pupil Franz Xaver Süssmayr at the request of Mozart's widow, Constanze. The Requiem was delivered to Count Franz von Walsegg, who had commissioned it anonymously. Süssmayr's completion is the version most commonly performed today, and the work stands as one of the greatest choral pieces in the Western classical music tradition.