"The greatest Prodigy that Europe or that even Human Nature has to boast of. It surpasses all Understanding or all Imagination." – Announcement for a public concert by Mozart, age 7.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria in 1756. His father, Leopold, was an accomplished violinist who taught music to the cathedral choirboys and who became famous by writing his Violin Method that was used as an instructional piece around Europe. Leopold gave Mozart and his older sister, Nannerl, musical instruction, and promoted their incredible natural talent. Although Nannerl was noted as a masterful pianist, Wolfgang showed an incomprehensible capacity to master a diverse number of instruments as well as to compose music before the age of five, writing his first concerto for the clavier at age four. Leopold recognized the enormous talent in both of his children and set off for Vienna, Paris and London to showcase their musical gifts for all of Europe to witness. After a Countess would hear the prodigies play, she would encourage her other noble friends to invite the young musicians to play at their residences until the children, ages 10 and 6, worked their way upwards through the hierarchy and ultimately played for the royalty. On October 13, 1762 the children played at Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna for Empress Maria Theresa. The following year they played for Louis XV of France and then King George III and Queen Charlotte of England to rave reviews. Not only were they praised for their mastery of difficult compositions, but Wolfgang also entertained the crowds by placing a handkerchief on the clavier keyboard and played perfectly without being able to see the keys. In 1763 a newspaper account of a concert given in Vienna notes that the audience was amazed at the six year old boy who had the ability to play "…sonatas, trios and concertos, but in a manly way, and improvise moreover for hours on end out of his own head…producing the best of ideas according to the taste of today; and even accompany at sight symphonies, arias and recitatives at the great concerts. – Tell me, does not this exceed all imagination?" There were terrifying health scares faced by the Mozart family during their journeys. In 1765 Nannerl fell ill with intestinal typhoid and received Extreme Unction before her miraculous recovery, but Wolfgang soon after caught the disease and his life was in peril for two months, leaving him so weak and frail he had to learn to walk again. Two years later both children contracted smallpox during the outbreak in Naples, where they were to play for the royal wedding of King Ferdinand IV to Archduchess Maria Josepha – the children recovered, but the bride-to-be did not. By the age of twelve, Wolfgang was no longer regarded as a prodigy, but rather seen by Viennese musicians as a rival when the Emperor suggested Mozart write an opera for the Imperial Theatre. The work, La Finta Semplice, met with opposition based on the ego of the impresario of the theatre who feared being replaced should this incredible young talent upstage him. The Opera was ultimately not allowed to open in Vienna, but Leopold would not be intimidated by bullying and orchestrated the premier of the opera in Salzburg instead, as well as a one-act singspiel by Wolfgang to be performed in Vienna at a private performance in the home of the famous Dr. Anton Mesmer. At the tender age of fourteen, Wolfgang, a devout Catholic, received the title "Knight of the Golden Spur" from Pope Clement XIV, an honor of such high rank it had previously only been awarded to one other musician two centuries prior.
This color coordinated collection of fashion fabrics was first featured in our Vogue Fabrics By Mail Winter 2010 catalog of swatches. Subscribe to receive home delivery of these catalogs every other month.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria in 1756. His father, Leopold, was an accomplished violinist who taught music to the cathedral choirboys and who became famous by writing his Violin Method that was used as an instructional piece around Europe. Leopold gave Mozart and his older sister, Nannerl, musical instruction, and promoted their incredible natural talent. Although Nannerl was noted as a masterful pianist, Wolfgang showed an incomprehensible capacity to master a diverse number of instruments as well as to compose music before the age of five, writing his first concerto for the clavier at age four. Leopold recognized the enormous talent in both of his children and set off for Vienna, Paris and London to showcase their musical gifts for all of Europe to witness. After a Countess would hear the prodigies play, she would encourage her other noble friends to invite the young musicians to play at their residences until the children, ages 10 and 6, worked their way upwards through the hierarchy and ultimately played for the royalty. On October 13, 1762 the children played at Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna for Empress Maria Theresa. The following year they played for Louis XV of France and then King George III and Queen Charlotte of England to rave reviews. Not only were they praised for their mastery of difficult compositions, but Wolfgang also entertained the crowds by placing a handkerchief on the clavier keyboard and played perfectly without being able to see the keys. In 1763 a newspaper account of a concert given in Vienna notes that the audience was amazed at the six year old boy who had the ability to play "…sonatas, trios and concertos, but in a manly way, and improvise moreover for hours on end out of his own head…producing the best of ideas according to the taste of today; and even accompany at sight symphonies, arias and recitatives at the great concerts. – Tell me, does not this exceed all imagination?" There were terrifying health scares faced by the Mozart family during their journeys. In 1765 Nannerl fell ill with intestinal typhoid and received Extreme Unction before her miraculous recovery, but Wolfgang soon after caught the disease and his life was in peril for two months, leaving him so weak and frail he had to learn to walk again. Two years later both children contracted smallpox during the outbreak in Naples, where they were to play for the royal wedding of King Ferdinand IV to Archduchess Maria Josepha – the children recovered, but the bride-to-be did not. By the age of twelve, Wolfgang was no longer regarded as a prodigy, but rather seen by Viennese musicians as a rival when the Emperor suggested Mozart write an opera for the Imperial Theatre. The work, La Finta Semplice, met with opposition based on the ego of the impresario of the theatre who feared being replaced should this incredible young talent upstage him. The Opera was ultimately not allowed to open in Vienna, but Leopold would not be intimidated by bullying and orchestrated the premier of the opera in Salzburg instead, as well as a one-act singspiel by Wolfgang to be performed in Vienna at a private performance in the home of the famous Dr. Anton Mesmer. At the tender age of fourteen, Wolfgang, a devout Catholic, received the title "Knight of the Golden Spur" from Pope Clement XIV, an honor of such high rank it had previously only been awarded to one other musician two centuries prior.
This color coordinated collection of fashion fabrics was first featured in our Vogue Fabrics By Mail Winter 2010 catalog of swatches. Subscribe to receive home delivery of these catalogs every other month.
