Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

I. Life: A. Born Salzburg, Son of Musician Leopold Mozart
Until 1773 Wolfgang was completely under the direction of his father. He did not go to school. Wolfgang was a child prodigy and his father sought to develop that great musical talent.; B. The traveler
He began to travel early in life. In January 1762 Mozart was taken to the Court of Maximilian III in Munich. Half a year later he went to Vienna to exhibit his musical genius at the Imperial Court. As a teenager he traveled to the famous opera centers of Italy.; C. Started to compose music before age five
By age 12 he had written sonatas, concertos, symphonies, opera (Bastien and Bastienne); D. He rebelled against social restrictions imposed by the patronage system; E. At age 25 he moved to Vienna to be free artist; F. Married in 1782; G. His last work was the Requiem, or Mass for the Dead, he had the notion he was writing it for himself.; H. He died in 1791, and because of his debts he was given the poorest class of funeral, and was buried in a paupers grave.

II. His Music: A. Instrumental Music; 1. In chamber music he favored the string quartet, but also wrote divertimentos, serenades; 2. He is known for his concertos for piano, his favorite instrument.; 3. He wrote more than forty symphonies, his last three were probably never performed during his lifetime.; B. Vocal Music; 1. Opera was the central current in his art; 2. A few of the famous operas: The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, Cosi fan tutte, The Magic Flute

Dramma Giocoso: Mixed buffa and seria elements, a non-tragic drama
Dramma per musica: early 17th century name for opera seria
Singspiel: German 18th century opera in a comic form with spoken dialogue and in the line of development toward German romantic opera