Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

• 1756-1791. 35 years old
• Austrian
• At 6 years old could play harpsichord, violin, improvise(make up) music, and read music perfectly at first sight
• What were you doing at 6? Don’t write this
• At 8 years old, wrote a symphony.
• At 12, an opera.
• Spent his time between ages 6-15 on tour in Europe and England
• He played for Empress of Austria, King of France, King of England

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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

(play link)

• At 25, no job, married with no money

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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

• Moves to the big city of Vienna and finds fame!
• Writes multiple popular Operas, his music is played in palaces, get paid $$$ for private lessons
• He falls out of favor quickly and dies a poor man from rheumatic fever (strep throat)

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Our scene opens with Salieri (composer for the prince) presenting his music to the Prince (dark coat, red trim). Mozart enters, bows (to the wrong person), then shows up the Prince and Salieri by playing the piece better. Mozart continues on improvising the rest of the piece better than it was written. Salieri is not pleased.