[Born at Salzburg in Austria, 1756. Died at Vienna, 1791. Aged 35.]
The most renowned of German musical composers. His father was a
musician, and he himself the greatest musical prodigy that ever lived.
It is alleged upon authority that at four years old, he could already
play and even compose. It is certain, that before he was eight a harvest
was in reaping by his family, who travelled over Germany to exhibit his
astounding performances. In 1764, he was in England playing before the
King and Court. In 1769, he produced an opera, being then 13 years of
age. At 15, he was in Italy, creating wonder by works which rivalled
those of the great Italian masters. Medals were struck in honour of
young Orpheus in the land of art and song. He was not 17 years old when
he could count as his productions four operas, an oratorio, two masses,
and many other compositions. Mozart grew in years, and did not suffer
the ordinary penalty of precocity. In him “the child was father to the
man.” The blossom became ripe fruit. In 1781, he produced his opera of
“Idomeneo.” Then followed the “Marriage of Figaro,” and in 1787, his
masterpiece “Don Giovanni”--a work composed in an incredibly short space
of time. Now came sickness--and the threatening of a complaint allied
too frequently to unnatural intellectual development. Symptoms of
consumption gave rise to melancholy--melancholy to inordinate
labour--inordinate labour to speedy death. Mozart had the grave already
in sight when he composed his exquisite “Requiem.” This illustrious man
was the founder of the school in which Beethoven was a faithful
disciple. His fertility of creation, the rich luxurious beauty of his
music, his purity and melody, can hardly be excelled. In all the
relations of life Mozart was blameless. He had a generous soul, and we
are pained to think so rare and so richly endowed a genius should at any
period of his career have suffered anguish from poverty and distress.