MOZART: A GEM OF THE CLASSICAL ERA

With more than 600 works (16 operas, 41 symphonies and more than 500 pieces of other music) to his credit, regarded as the era-defining classical composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart continues to inspire artists even today. Born in Salzburg on January 27, 1756, Mozart was a child prodigy and had already begun composing his own pieces by the age of five. The dexterous composer altered all the major genres (opera, chamber music, symphony, the piano sonata and the solo concerto) of music using instruments in ways no one had done before.

Mozart’s father, Leopold had been a musician himself. Along with that, he was also an experienced teacher and had begun teaching Mozart at an early age. When Mozart could effortlessly play the keyboard and violin at the age of four, Leopold took note of his prodigal son’s talent. But since it was the 18th century, people did not believe that such a young child could compose music and felt that his father must have written the pieces instead. Thus they asked Mozart to be left alone in a room for a week by the end of which he had produced a piece of choir music and proved himself a musical genius. Initially, the Mozart family undertook several trips to Munich, Vienna, Prague, Paris and many more places where Wolfgang along with his elder sister would perform at various gatherings, exhibits, and courts. On one of these trips, he got to know the works of J. C. Bach which had a deep influence on him. Later, as Mozart matured as an artist, he began to do solo tours, showcasing his talent. Eventually, at the age of 17, he was employed as a court musician in Salzburg but his growing discontentment for the job led to his search for a better one and he ventured to Munich, Paris, finally settling in Vienna where he had soon established himself as the best keyboard player. Mozart’s opera, Die Entführung Aus Dem Serail ("The Abduction from the Seraglio") premiered on 16 July 1782 and achieved a huge success. It was soon being performed everywhere across the “German-speaking-Europe” and solidified his reputation as a composer.

He was personally a pleasant man with a fondness for billiards, pets, dancing, and humor. He died at a young age of 35 and the cause of which is not known with clarity. Mozart left us a grand legacy of his works which have been a great source of inspiration and pleasure. He had a major influence on many artists including Beethoven who had performed Mozart's operas on numerous occasions.

The year 2018 marks the 262nd anniversary of Mozart and will be celebrated all over the world. People hold concerts and gatherings and remember the gem of the classical era that he was. In his symphonies and our hearts, he continues to live on.

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