Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

At the early age of 4 years Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart started to receive his musical education and was taught by his father. At the age of 5 he was presented as an infant prodigy and performed his first musical tour through Europe. Mozart's career was closely linked to the city of Vienna. Aged 6, he performed for the Austrian royals at the Hall of Mirrors at Schloss Schönnbrunn and enchanted Empress Maria Theresia and her family with his talent and his liveliness. On this tour through Europe it became clear that Mozart was not only an excellent performer, but was also interested in composing music. In 1765, his first Sonatas were published in Paris in 1765.

Mozart moved to Vienna in 1781 aged 25. In the House of the Teutonic Order (Deutschordenshaus; 1010, Singerstraße 7) he fell out with his employer, the Archbishop of Salzburg. Mozart resigned his secure employment at Salzburg and opted for a freelance career in Vienna.
Mozart's first months in Vienna were spent in a small pension in the direct vicinity of St. Peter's Church, a beautiful baroque church in the first district. There, the composer fell in love with Konstanze Weber, daughter to the establishment. The success of his opera "The Abduction from the Seraglio" (Die Entführung aus dem Serail) enabled him to marry - at St. Stephen's Cathedral.
2 years later, Mozart and his family moved into the "Mozarthaus" (1010, Domgasse 5) into a spacious apartment. Mozart was respected and successful as a musician and happy in his marriage. His years at 'Mozarthaus' would be the most productive period in his live. He composed piano concerti, chamber music works and the opera "The Marriage of Figaro" (Die Hochzeit des Figaro).
A year before his death, Mozart and his family moved into another first district apartment. In spite of his success the family was heavily in dept and Mozart worked frantically to earn more money. "The Magic Flute" was composed in this time and the famous unfinished Requiem, unfinished as Mozart suddenly took ill and died on the 5th December 1791. His remains received his last blessings in the 'Kruzifixkapelle' in St. Stephen's Cathedral. Parts of the Requiem were performed for the first time during the wake at Michaelerkirche. Then, Mozart was buried at St. Marx Cemetery. 60 years after his death a monument was errected at the grave yard to commemorate the great musician, 100 years after his death this memorial was moved to the graves of honor (group 32 a, no. 55). First district's Burggarten features an impressive Mozart memorial!