Mozart Life

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l operas Bastien und Bastienne and the opera La Finta Semplice ( Crane Arizona Opera ). Though these works were naïve compared to his later Italian operas, it distinctly showed a latent sense for tact in Italian text setting. Despite being a child prodigy, Wolfgang couldn’t find a job open to him. So, once again with his father as escort, the ambitious 14 year old set off for Italy in 1769 to try and make his way as an opera composer. He was received very well in Italy. During the years of travel between Italy and Salzburg, Wolfgang produced his firsts of many great operas to come: Mitridate (1770), Ascanio in Alba (1771), and Lucio Silla (1772), as well as his first String Quartets.
The period form 1774 to mid 1777 was spent in Salzburg where he worked as a Konzertmeister at the Prince Archbishop’s court. He wrote many of his works during this time. Seeing limited opportunity in Salzburg, he left with his mother to Munich and Mannheim. No post was offered here either. His father then sent him to Paris with minor success only with his Paris Symphony no.31, deftly designed for the local taste. So, Wolfgang returned home alone. His mother had died in Paris. The years 1779-80 were spent in Salzburg playing in a cathedral and at court. He finally landed his big break when he wrote the Opera Idomeneo as a commission for Munich ( “Mozart” Grove ) Though there was conflict between him, his employer, and the Archbishop. So in May 1781 he resigned or was kicked out of his job. Wolfgang continued made a living as part time teacher, composer, and performer for various events. He married Constanze Weber in 1782. Also in 1782 and the following few years, Wolfgang wrote six string quartets all dedicated to the master of the form, Hayden. Hayden once told Mozart’s father that “Mozart was the greatest composer known to me in person or by name; he has taste and, what is more, the greatest knowledge of composition” ( “Mozart” Grove )...