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Nationality -

At the time of Mozart's birth, Salzburg was a prosperous city-state situated between Bavaria and Austria. Although technically part of the Roman Empire, it maintained its autonomy. Mozart himself always considered himself German, both by birth and nationality.

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Gifted child -

A true child prodigy, Mozart composed his first piece at five and performed before imperial courts by six. Already skilled in clavier and violin, he allegedly composed his first symphony in London when he was only eight.

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Party tricks -

Mozart famously played the fortepiano with the keyboard covered, a stunt he first performed for the Habsburg emperor and empress. Another party trick of his was to ask someone to play a single note on any instrument, or even on a bell or glass, and he could instantly name the pitch.

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Job market struggles -

Although Mozart had already toured European courts and impressed renowned musicians like Bach by the age of 15, he faced difficulties in securing consistent work and adequate income. After a brief, unsatisfying stint in the Salzburg court orchestra, he left in 1777 due to low pay and disagreements with his employer.

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Fashion lover -

Mozart had a penchant for fine clothing. This fascination began at the tender age of six when he was gifted a set of formal court attire by Empress Maria Theresa. Later in life, he developed a particular fondness for a striking red coat. He convinced a patron to purchase the coat for him, and it is famously depicted in his most recognizable portrait, painted years after his death.

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Globe-trotter -

It's estimated that Mozart spent nearly a third of his life on the road. He visited over 200 places, totaling 10 years and two months of his 35-year life. To accommodate these extensive travels, the Mozart family invested in a carriage, likely purchased from a fellow composer’s Haydn family. Pictured is a map of Mozart's tour of former Czechoslovakia.

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Uncredited sister -

Mozart's older sister, Maria Anna, was also a talented musician. She toured with Mozart, contributed to his early works, and was also hailed as a prodigy. However, as she entered her teenage years, her father deemed it inappropriate for her to continue public performances, encouraging her to focus on domestic duties. After her marriage, she was forced to abandon her musical career entirely.

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A family affair? -

In his letters to his cousin Maria Anna, Mozart really goes wild with his profane jokes. While some dismiss it as mere family banter, others speculate a deeper connection. In an era where marriages between cousins were common, it's possible they shared a brief romantic attachment. The fact that he stopped writing to her after his marriage adds fuel to this theory.

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Complicated love life -

Mozart was deeply enamored with Aloysia Weber, the second-oldest Weber sister. However, his feelings were not reciprocated. When he proposed to her, she publicly rejected him. Undeterred, Mozart responded with a witty song. He later found love with Aloysia's younger sister, Constanze, whom he married in 1782.

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Questionable humor -

Mozart possessed a unique sense of humor, often incorporating bawdy and irreverent themes into his conversations. His letters and even some musical works contain references to bodily functions and crude jokes, reflecting a playful and sometimes unconventional side of his personality.

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Master prankster -

Known for his snarky nature, Mozart sometimes even poked fun at composers he deemed inferior. During a performance of one of his operas, he couldn't resist interrupting a silent moment to play a surprising chord, startling the actor on stage. According to Mozart's writings, the audience loved it.

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Powerful nemesis -

Archbishop Colloredo, initially Mozart's patron, became his nemesis. Despising the composer's lack of decorum and disobedience, Colloredo often berated him. The relationship culminated in a notorious incident where Mozart was physically ejected by Colloredo from a palace. As Mozart himself wrote, he was "kicked out the door."

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Freemason -

In 1784, at the age of 28, he joined Freemasonry and began to compose Masonic music occasionally. One of the Masonic specials he made is the 'Maurerische Trauermusik.' This new commitment became a crucial part of his life as he attended meetings and made friends from the Masons group.

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Divine workaholic -

Mozart often worked day and night, seemingly possessed by a constant flow of musical ideas. Even during his wife's labor, he continued composing, working on the minuet and trio of his 'String Quartet No. 15.' He believed in a divine source for his extraordinary talent, perhaps influenced by his father and Roman Catholic upbringing.

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Mental health struggles -

Mozart's writings reveal signs of emotional turmoil. He mentions having "black thoughts," implying periods of depression. Some scholars have suggested that he may have experienced cyclothymia, a mood disorder that causes fluctuations between periods of heightened energy and depression, which could explain both his intense creativity and darker moments.

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Meeting Beethoven -

Ludwig van Beethoven left his hometown of Bonn in 1787, aspiring to launch his musical career in Vienna and meet Mozart. While accounts of their interaction vary, it's likely they did meet. Beethoven may have even studied with Mozart briefly. Though definitive proof is elusive, it's clear that a young Beethoven was inspired by the musical genius of his time.

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Against breastfeeding -

Mozart and Constanze had six children, but only two survived. In the 18th century, it was common for the European upper class to feed infants with water rather than breast milk. As Mozart wrote to his father, "I wanted the child to be brought up on water, like my sister and myself."

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Bird funeral -

Mozart had a strong fondness for birds and formed a special bond with his pet starling. When the bird passed away, Mozart honored its memory with an elaborate funeral, complete with a poem he wrote himself. He even invited mourners to a requiem-like service, asking them to wear veils. Mozart claimed to have taught the bird the opening melody of his 'Piano Concerto No. 17.'

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Proposal to Marie Antoinette -

Mozart, at the age of six, performed at Schönbrunn Palace. A story tells of him slipping and being helped by the future Queen of France, then three months older than him. He reportedly thanked Marie Antoinette by saying, "You are good! I will marry you!" While this anecdote is hard to verify, it's likely the two met during Mozart's European tour.

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Genius at work -

Mozart didn't need grand inspiration to create masterpieces. He reportedly composed the short but powerful 'Ave verum corpus' as a gesture of gratitude for a teacher who helped Mozart and his wife while she recovered from an injury. This is considered by many to be one of his finest works.

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Beef debunked -

The 1984 film 'Amadeus' popularized the idea of a bitter rivalry between Mozart and Italian composer Antonio Salieri. However, recent discoveries, including a collaborative composition from 1785, suggest a more amicable relationship between the two. This challenges the long-held belief that Salieri may have been involved in Mozart's death.

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Sketchy associates -

Mozart's most fruitful collaboration was with a former seminary student turned brothel owner. Lorenzo Da Ponte was a controversial figure who was banished from Venice for 15 years due to his "immoral earnings." Despite his checkered past, Da Ponte's talent for writing librettos led to three of Mozart's greatest operas: 'The Marriage of Figaro,' 'Don Giovanni,' and 'Così fan tutte.'

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Over spending -

In his final years, Mozart's extravagant lifestyle led to significant debt. He spent lavishly on housing, furniture, musical instruments, and servants. To alleviate his financial woes, he wrote numerous letters pleading for loans from a friend. Despite receiving a substantial amount, he still owed a considerable debt at the time of his death, which fell on his wife to repay.

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'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star' -

While many associate the 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star' melody with Mozart, this is a misconception. The melody actually predates Mozart, originating from a French folk song. Mozart composed variations on this melody, likely for his students, but did not create the original tune. The English lyrics were added much later, around 1806.

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Machine composer -

Despite his tragically short life, Mozart composed over 600 works. A 'New Complete Edition' of his recordings contains 240 hours of music on its own. By some accounts, one would need 202 hours or about 8 and a half days of straight listening to get through Mozart's entire body of work.

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Unfinished business -

Mozart began composing his 'Requiem,' but he died in 1791 before completing the work. His student, Franz Xaver Süssmayr, finished the piece. To secure much-needed funds for her family, Mozart's wife, Constanze, sold the completed 'Requiem' as if it were entirely Mozart's work.

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Mysterious death -

While the exact cause of Mozart's death at age 35 remains a mystery, his final illness was marked by a range of severe symptoms, including vomiting, swelling, and intense pain. While these symptoms could indicate various illnesses, some have speculated that he might have been poisoned.

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Legacy or business? -

Constanze played a pivotal role in shaping her husband's legacy. She sold many of his unpublished manuscripts, but even before the 19th century, two firms had initiated large-scale editions of his music. Notably, Constanze's second husband published a significant biography of Mozart in 1828.

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Bitter end -

Mozart died in debt and relative obscurity. His funeral was modest and he was buried in an unmarked grave in Vienna. In the late 19th century, his remains were moved to a more prominent location in the city's Central Cemetery. Today, a monument stands in his memory at the approximate site of his original burial place.

Sources: (Britannica) (The Times) (CNY Arts) (CPR Classical) (WOSU) (BBC) (CNN) (Piano Lit)

See also: From Beethoven to Wagner: The best composers of all time

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