About this item
A whimsical, age-appropriate introduction to the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Includes exposure to 8 languages through the use of pictures, text and pronunciations by native speakers.
About the Author
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a prolific classical composer whose work, including the operas The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, Cosi Fan Tutte and The Magic Flute stands among the most enduringly admired of all classical music.Mozart wrote his own short works at the age of five and soon he and his sister were taken on a performing tour of the Courts of Europe. He took up the position of court musician, aged 16, in Salzburg. During his five years there he found limited opportunities for writing music and he eventually moved to Vienna.Contemporary accounts suggest that his time in Vienna was like that of a modern rock star. He became the toast of the town, in demand as a performer and composer. The money that went with his new status allowed him to adopt a lavish lifestyle and stage concerts in unusual venues, which was considered daring for the time and ultimately crowd pleasing stuff.His success saw his rise to chamber composer for Emperor Joseph II, a prestigious high-profile position which allowed him lots of time to take on private commissions. Perhaps as a result of his opulent lifestyle or, as some suggest, the depressive side of 'genius', Mozart's prolific composing rate decreased, as did his public appearances. When the Austro-Turkish war broke out, there was less money to spend on luxuries, and having Mozart compose a tune or play at a party was something few could afford.
