The decade of the 1780s rests almost perfectly between the American and French Revolutions. Mozart's " The Marriage of Figaro" is still performed around the world to this day.īoth operas criticize aristocracy heavily, perhaps unsurprisingly when one considers the context they were written in. Both can be considered Enlightenment era pieces, influenced by and containing themes pertinent to the period, such as the role of aristocracy and sexual liberty. His public image, though, paled in comparison to the controversies found with his works – in particular, two of his most famous and profound operas, The Marriage of Figaro and Don Giovanni. Publicly, he was controversial because he was an artist of monumental genius who was childish in his demeanor and the ways he spent his money. Mozart’s undermining of convention had only just begun, however. Mozart had become a strange phenomenon: he was the most rebellious composer in Europe. For his part, the Archbishop continued to block Mozart’s attempts to work outside the established confines of the court, from which he had left, returned, and then attempted to leave again. And he was even more insistent that his son not do it in Vienna, where he could not be controlled. Mozart’s father was dead set against him earning a living by freelancing. Operas, being large scale productions, were funded by wealthier commoners, who saw great investments in the future of the medium. More and more common people were able to pay to see it, and, as the middle class in cities like Vienna grew, so too did their appetite for musical theatre.
Opera, while always a mainstay of music, had become an increasingly popular and profitable enterprise. Luckily for Mozart, however, there were other avenues of success emerging for him. Such pieces were valued by the nobility because they enhanced the reputations of the patrons as people of taste and wealth. The composers would either be paid to create pieces of considerable size, like requiems or symphonies, or they would receive annual salaries. In the 18th century, composers generally worked for commissions provided by kings, dukes or other nobles with money to spend. But it also led to a near-revolutionary breakthrough for Mozart. The decisive action would also be among the first of many arguments with his father. The decision to leave the court was bold, but it would be only the beginning of his quarrel with the Archbishop. This dilemma, coupled with the almost embarrassingly low pay he received there, compelled Mozart to do something reasonable and yet, somehow, unexpected: he quit. With a wide variety of commissions at court – such as dances, symphonies, and quartets – he could not pursue what he passionately wanted to do: compose opera. The expectations of the Archbishop limited the scope of his compositions. These struggles would lead to major issues for Mozart at his Salzburg post and in his relationship with his father. This would lead inevitably to the feuds Mozart had with two of the most imposing authority figures in his life: the Archbishop, who would hamper and trouble Mozart for years after, until his final resignation from the court and his father Leopold, the controlling tyrant of the young genius. Mozart was deeply affected by the shifting political, social, and philosophical landscape of his time, and it shows in the subversive notes of his music and actions.Īt 17 years of age, Mozart was already a seasoned artist and was hired as the court composer for the Archbishop of Salzburg. Studying him through his music gives us the context to his life as a composer, but studying the history of the time and place in which he lived provides the context to his life as a person.
#SHORT MOZART COMPOSITIONS FULL#
He is undoubtedly one of the most famous and celebrated composers ever to grace the ears of the world, but this view lacks a full appreciation of the nuances of Mozart’s actual life. Mozart is known, first and foremost, as a great composer. One of his most important and yet most overlooked accomplishments was how permanently he changed composing as an occupation and music as an industry. His status and influence were not, however, accidental. It’s difficult to pinpoint what makes Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart so special, and most people have their own reaction to the legendary composer’s life and music. Indeed, Mozart’s resistance to authority led to one of his less recognized impacts: a lasting change in composing as an occupation and music as an industry.
#SHORT MOZART COMPOSITIONS PROFESSIONAL#
In his 35 years of life, he exhibited a disdain for authority that manifested itself in his familial and professional relationships, and most memorably in his operas. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s music is timeless, but Mozart the man had a sadly short time on Earth.
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