MOZART. Wotreaso AMtnnt•:rs 11756-91). A famous Cermet! composer. Ile was horn at Salzburg, Austria. .[:Inners- 27, 1756. Mozart's to we for music first manifested itself when his thlest sister, 'Nannerl,' began to receive sisal instructions from her father. When he was only live years old he composed little minuets and was discovered at work on a concerto. -at six he had become so proficient as a performer on the piano, and his sister's progress also had been so great, that their father took them on a tour of the leading capitals of Europe, everywhere meeting With notable receptions.
In 1768 the elder Mozart again took his son to Vienna. There this boy of twelve conducted a solemn mass of his own composition, and his operetta Baslien and was given at a private performance. After a brief sojourn in Salzburg, where Wolfgang was appointed concert meister to the Archbishop, his father took him to Italy. In Dome he heard the famous Ili,vcrere of Allegri, which was so jealously guarded by the authorities that musicians were forbidden to copy it under pain of exeommunieation. After twice hearing it young Mozart wrote it out by ear. Ills compositions and his performances made a impression that the Pope created him a Knight of the Golden Spur. and at Bologna he was elected a mender of the Philharmonic So ciety. At Milan he received a commission to compose an opera. the result being re di Ponta, which was brought out in December, 1770. and had twenty consecutive performances. Ilis knowledge of the Italian style of singing was greatly broadened through this Italian trip, and especially through his acquaintance with the male soprano Farinelli, the greatest singer of his time.
After another brief sojourn in Salzburg he returned in August, 1771, to Milan, where he brought. out his serenata A.veanio in Alba. in honor of the nuptials of Archduke Ferdinand, a son of Maria Theresa. The death of Archbishop Sigismund at Salzburg was a severe blow to the Nlozarts; for his successor, Itieronymus, for whose installation Mozart composed 11 soyno cli Seipione (The Dream of Scipio), showed little appreciation of his genius. Tw•a other Italian stage works Luria Nina and La /into giardi nicro were produced in Milan, and the latter also in Munich; and on the occasion of Arch duke Maximilian Francis's visit to Salzburg, in 1773, he brought out 11 re pardon..
Disgusted with the obstaeles which ITicronymna constantly threw in his way, .Nlozart, accompanied
by his mother, again started out on his travels in September, 1777. In Mannheim he met the Weber family, which was destined to play an important part. in his life. The head of this Fridolin von Weber, was prompter and copyist at the theatre. The eldest daughter, Josepha, afterwards Frau Defer, was the prima donna for whom in later years Mozart wrote the "Queen of the music in The Plato. A younger daughter, Aloysia. afterwards Frau Lange, was for a time Mozart's pupil, and he promptly fell in love with her. Another daughter, Constanza, later became his wife. A trip to Paris ended tragically in his mother's death. lle returned to Salzburg, stopping on his way in Munielt, where Aloysia had secured a position, and where lie learned that she Tin longer cared for hint. In after years, however, this youthful sweetheart did more than any other singer to make his music famous. 1Vhile in Paris he made a friend of the encyclopedist Crimm.
At Salzburg lie composed the music to the tragedy King Thanmv, and began the composition of an operetta, ZWide, which was interrupted by an invitation to compose an opera for :Munich. Guide was never finished, but the result of the 1111114th invitation was the opera Honteneo, which opened a new epoch in his life. being his first masterpiece in the grand style. During a visit to Vienna in 1781, Mozart terminated once for all iris relations with the boorish Hieronymus, who had grossly insulted him. lIe took up his residence with the Webers, who were now• in Vienna. II is father strongly objected to this, and be moved his lodgings. But he had fallen in love with Constanza, and in August, 1782, they were married. Notwithstanding the grinding poverty of their lot, their marriage was a happy one, for their mutual love atoned for the hardships which constantly confronted them. 1-1 is marriage took place shortly after the production in Vienna of his opera Bebnonte curd Constanza, oder Die Ent fiihrung aus dent Serail. The Italian musi cians of Vienna. headed by Salieri, used all Meallti in their power to have the production fail, but it was triumphantly successful. Chick attended one of the performances and was en thusiastic in his approval of it. Nevertheless, from this time on \lozart was-constantly met by the hostile machinations of the Salieri party, which greatly imbittered his career.