Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart grew up in Salzburg under the regulation of his strict father Leopold who also was a famous composer of his time. His abilities in music were obvious even when Mozart was still young so that in 1762 at the age of six, his father took him with his elder sister on a concert tour to Munich and Vienna and a second one from 1763-66 through the south of Germany, Paris and London. Mozart was celebrated as a wonder child everywhere because of his excellent piano playing and his improvisations.

In 1769 he became the concertmaster of the Archbishop and was knighted by the Pope in Rome. Working in Salzburg he nevertheless travelled around Europe to meet other composers and orchestras.

Children: Raimund Leopold (June 17 - August 19, 1783); Karl Thomas (September 21, 1784 - October 31, 1858); Johann Thomas Leopold (October 18 - November 15, 1786); Theresia Constanzia Adelheid Friedericke Maria Anna (December 27, 1787 - June 29, 1788); Anna Maria (b/d December 25, 1789); Franz Xaver Wolfgang (July 26, 1791 - July 29, 1844). Neither Karl or Franz married or had children.

Contrary to the story perpetuated by "Amadeus" author Peter Shaffer, there is absolutely no proof that Mozart was the victim of a deadly intrigue perpetrated by Antonio Salieri. Mozart disliked Salieri at first, blaming him and the other Italian composers at Emperor Joseph II's court for his difficulty in establishing himself, even accusing Salieri of trickery. However, contrary to what "Amadeus" insinuates, there's no evidence Salieri blocked Mozart from gaining appointments or staging his work. Whatever acrimony there may have been between them faded by 1785 as Mozart found success. In fact, Salieri and his mistress, Caterina Cavalieri, were Mozart's guests at the premier of "Die Zauberflöte".

Wrote Serenade No. 13 for strings in G major (aka "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik) on August 10, 1787. Mozart's widow sold it, along with a large bundle of his compositions, to German composer and music publisher Johann André, who did not publish it until 1827.

He preferred to be known as Wolfgang Amadé Mozart. The Latin Amadeus became popular because it is the name his widow used - both in the parish death register and when asking for a pension. A benefit held in Prague in 1791 was billed as "Concert in memory of Wolfgang Gottlieb Mozart

In 1809, Constanze married Danish diplomat Georg Nikolaus von Nissen (1761 - 1826). A Mozart fanatic, he edited vulgar passages out of many of the composer's letters, and wrote a Mozart biography.

In honor of Mozart's 250th birthday, all the church bells in Salzburg were rung simultaneously at the exact hour of his birth.

Composed his first 30 symphonies by the age of 18, and returned to composing in this genre 4 years later in Paris, the city which also happens to be the nickname of his 31st symphony and was very well received at its premier.