Composer · 1756 – 1791
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Key Takeaways
- Mozart was a child prodigy who composed and performed across Europe from a young age.
- He produced more than 600 works in nearly every musical genre.
- His operas and symphonies became cornerstones of the Classical style.
- He died at 35, leaving his Requiem unfinished.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart remains, more than two centuries after his death, one of the most beloved and admired composers who ever lived. A prodigy of astonishing gifts, he mastered every form of music in his time and infused them with melody, drama and emotional depth that still feel effortless.
A prodigy of Europe
Born in Salzburg in 1756, Mozart was composing by the age of five and touring the courts of Europe as a child performer alongside his sister. His early genius matured into a fluency unmatched in music, and by his twenties he had absorbed and surpassed the styles of his predecessors, among them the great Johann Sebastian Bach.
Vienna and the great works
Settling in Vienna during the Age of Enlightenment, Mozart produced his finest works: the operas The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni and The Magic Flute, his late symphonies, and a wealth of concertos and chamber music. He died in 1791 at just 35, his Requiem left unfinished.
Legacy
Mozart’s perfection of the Classical style shaped all who followed, above all Ludwig van Beethoven. His music endures as a benchmark of beauty and craft, securing his place among the greatest composers in history.
Influence
Mozart's mastery of melody, form and dramatic expression set the standard for Classical music and influenced virtually every composer who followed, from Beethoven onward.
Legacy
Mozart is regarded as one of the supreme composers in Western history, his music a permanent fixture of the concert hall and opera house.
Major Works
- The Magic Flute
- Don Giovanni
- The Marriage of Figaro
- Requiem in D minor
- Symphony No. 41 (Jupiter)
Controversies
- The circumstances of his early death and rumours of poisoning, including by the composer Salieri, are legends unsupported by evidence.
Notable Quotes
“The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between.”
Connections
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart?
Mozart (1756–1791) was an Austrian composer of the Classical era and a child prodigy who wrote more than 600 works, including The Magic Flute and his Requiem.
How old was Mozart when he died?
He died in Vienna in 1791 at the age of 35, leaving his Requiem unfinished.
Citations & Sources
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