The Best of Classical Music: Mozart

A look at some of the best pieces of classical music by the great Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Who was Mozart?

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. Born in Salzburg, Mozart showed prodigious ability from his earliest childhood. Already competent on keyboard and violin, he composed from the age of five and performed before European royalty.

Early life

Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria, on January 27, 1756. At age three, he began playing the clavier—a small piano-like instrument—and within a few years had composed several pieces of music. When he was six, his father took him on a concert tour of Europe, where the young Mozart astonished audiences with his precocious talent. Anoter tour followed in 1763–64. After the family’s return to Salzburg, Mozart was admitted to the Archbishop’s music school, where he studied composition and basso continuo—the continuous bass line that forms the foundation of Baroque music. In 1769 he toured Italy with his father and sister Nannerl; while there he composed several operas and symphonies.

Family

Mozart was born in Salzburg, in the archbishopric of Salzburg, on January 27, 1756. He was the youngest child of Leopold and Anna Maria Pertl Mozart. Leopold was a widely traveled violinist and composer employed by the prince-archbishop of Salzburg. Mozart’s grandfather, also named Jakob (or Gilles) Mozart, had been a bookbinder before moving to Salzburg.

Mozart had an older sister, Maria Anna (or “Nannerl”), who was born three years before him. From Nannerl’s earliest years she showed unusual musical talent; after she turned seven, her father began teaching her keyboard and violin technique. When Mozart was five years old his father took him on a tour to Munich; they then visited Augsburg and passed southward through Switzerland and Frankfurt on their way home. In November 1763 a second series of concerts began in Munich; when it ended early in 1764 the family traveled via Trento to Verona and thence home by way of Mantua, Bologna, Florence, Pisa (where young Wolfgang apparently amused himself by climbing the Leaning Tower), Livorno, Siena (where his sister caught smallpox), Rome (where he met the castrato singer Farinelli), Naples (where he wrote his first opera buffa), and finally Salzburg.

Mozart’s music

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a prolific and influential composer of the classical era. He composed over 600 works, many of which are widely regarded as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music. Mozart is among the most enduringly popular of classical composers, with his work having been performed and recorded by musicians of all abilities and from all parts of the globe for more than 250 years.

Symphonies

Considering that he died at the age of 35, Mozart composed an astoundingly large body of work, including 41 symphonies. His early syms (Nos. 1-4) are modelled on those of Haydn and other contemporary composers and lack the individual stamp that marks the mature works. Nos. 5 (“The Little GREEK”), 6 (“Linz”) and 7 date from 1768, the year of Mozart’s first visit to Vienna; all are conventional in form and style but well crafted and full of interest. The “Haffner” Symphony (No. 35) was written in 1782 for a Salzburg nobleman’s ennoblement ceremonies (the “Haffner” Serenade, K. 250, is a less exalted work written for the same occasion); it too is in standard form but is marked by majesty and liveliness in equal measure.

In 1788 Mozart produced three of his most inspired symphonies: No. 39 (written in June), No. 40 (in July) and No. 41 (“Jupiter,” composed in August). All are masterpieces, but the “Jupiter” is unique in its grandeur, passion and severity; it was Mozart’s last symphony, and many have seen it as his farewell to the genre.

Concertos

Mozart wrote more than 50 concertos for a variety of instruments. His works in this genre include a Violin Concerto, a Horn Concerto, a flute concerto as well as a Piano Concerto No. 27 which is widely considered to be one of his greatest works.

Opera

Opera is a form of theatre in which music has a leading role and the parts are taken by singers. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance.

The first operas were written in the early 17th century. They were mostly simple stories about love and betrayal set to music. The first operas were performed in private homes or court theatres. In 1637, the first public opera house was built in Venice.

Opera quickly became popular all over Europe. It was especially popular in Germany, where it was known as Singspiel (singing play).By the early 1800s, opera had reached its Golden Age. The most famous operas were composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Giuseppe Verdi and Richard Wagner.

Why is Mozart’s music still popular today?

Mozart’s music is still popular today because it is accessible to listeners of all ages. It is easy to listen to and enjoy, but it also has a lot of depth and complexity. Mozart was a genius composer who was able to write music that was both beautiful and challenging.

Its timeless appeal

Mozart’s music is still popular today because of its timeless appeal. The beauty, elegance, and sophistication of his music have a universal appeal that transcends time and place. Mozart’s music is also popular because it is accessible to both classical music lovers and those who are new to the genre. His music is not only beautiful but also easy to listen to and enjoy.

Its emotional power

Mozart’s music is still popular today because of its emotional power. Mozart was a master of using music to express emotion, and his music is still capable of moving people today. Mozart’s music is also popular because it is accessible to a wide range of audiences. While some classical music can be difficult to listen to, Mozart’s music is generally easy to enjoy even for people who are not familiar with classical music. Finally, Mozart’s music is popular because it has been used in many different contexts over the years, from movies to commercials to television shows.