Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

BORN: January 27, 1756, Salzburg, Austria

DIED: December 5, 1791, Vienna, Austria

BIOGRAPHY

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart showed promise at an early age. Watching his older sister practice the piano helped shape his understanding of musical concepts. It wasn’t long before his father, an accomplished composer and musician, began tutoring him to advance his playing. At just six years old, he and his sister started performing for audiences. The stress of touring led to frequent health issues within the family and made for a difficult childhood. These obstacles didn’t stop him from carrying on as a composer and a performer.

FUN FACTS

• He loved animals and had many different pets, including a horse, a dog, and two songbirds: a starling and a canary.

• He was disorganized and would refuse to organize his music. Decades after Mozart died, Ludwig Ritter von Köchel catalogued everything and revealed how much music Mozart had written.

• He spoke 15 languages! Travelling the world as a musician helped him pick up languages from every stop he made.

As he got older, Mozart eventually arrived in Vienna where he wrote music, taught lessons, and performed in various venues. His life wasn’t long, but he performed often and collaborated with other composers to create timeless art. He continued to write operas, string quartets, symphonies, and more until the end of his life, becoming one of the most well-known composers in history.