Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
1756 – 1791 · Austria
Known for: Classical music genius, The Magic Flute, Requiem
“The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between”
Biography
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period. Despite his short life, he composed over 600 works, many of which are acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, operatic, and choral music. He is among the most enduringly popular of classical composers, and his influence on Western music is profound.
Born in Salzburg, Mozart showed prodigious ability from his earliest childhood. Already competent on keyboard and violin, he composed from the age of five and performed before European royalty. His father, Leopold, took him on tours across Europe, where the young Mozart amazed audiences with his musical gifts. He composed his first symphony at age 8 and his first opera at 12.
Mozart's mature compositions include operas such as "The Marriage of Figaro," "Don Giovanni," and "The Magic Flute," as well as symphonies, concertos, chamber music, and sacred works like his famous "Requiem," which remained unfinished at his death. He died in Vienna at age 35 under mysterious circumstances. His music is celebrated for its melodic beauty, formal elegance, and emotional depth.