Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart
There is so much information and intention of purpose in the name Leopold chose for his son on the day of birth on the 27th of January in 1756 in Salzburg, Austria.
The little boy was born on the day the Church celebrated of the saint who with his golden mouth spoke against the abuse of authority - the authority to which Leopold Mozart, descendent of bricklayers and builders, the first to obtain a Bachelor of Philosophy, was serving. The second name meant “The journey of the Wolf”, and the third - perhaps the most important one - Theophilus or Amadeus - “Loved by God”. The little Wolfi had his journey predetermined at his birth. His father would change the course of his family forever.
Leopold Mozart is perhaps the Founding Father of Touring. The music tours are nowdays the norm of generating revenue and fame, but it was not that common when Mozart’s dad chose it for both his children. From the seven born only two of his children survived, and both - his daughter and his son with an exceptional gift for music which Leopold, one of the best violin teachers in Europe, recognised immediately. Mozart’s mother (nobody ever speaks about Mozart’s mother!!) was a daughter of a very educated man, a civil servant whose unfortunate death left his wife and two daughters in deep poverty. Anna never forgot the drop in their social status and the consequent struggles of poverty. Despite her annual pregnancies, the sorrow of losing the children she bore, and the financial difficulties, she did not lose her determination and sense of humor and supported the grumpy, strict Leopold in his vision until her last breath. Both Mother and Father were united in the pursuit of happiness.
Mozart's mother Anna Maria
Due to the successful tours around Europe the Mozarts became quite wealthy and moved to an eight room apartment in the Dancing Master House in Salzburg. They would have many visitors who would not only listen to their music and dance, but also shoot airguns at farcical and preposterous targets. The spirit of the big revolution which was around the corner was already in the Mozart's house. The young Wolfgang was indeed dancing with the wolves. His family home would set up the stage not only for Don Giovanni with the imposing figure of the Commendatore, but also for the Marriage of Figaro.
The Mozart family would usually travel around Europe together. Both Nanerl (Mozart’s sister) and Wolfi would perform and improvise at the concerts around the royal courts, both would speak multiple languages, both would be laughing and eating together, but all good things eventually come to an end and Nanerl had to give up on her success once she reached the age to get married and become somebody's housewife. It was the end of the journey for her. The end of her education and development. All efforts were now fixated on the boy. Neither her nor her mother were allowed to join Leopold and Wolfgang in their three tours to Italy which both women resented greatly.
In Venice, Rome and Milan the young Mozart got immersed in the language, the church music tradition, the fascination of the street theater with its masked actors, the art of seduction, flirtation and not lastly, the amazing food. Who does not love Italy! However his poor father had to control his temper and impatience as the Italian singers would always be late, arguing with each other, not showing up and demanding special treatment.
For the disciplined and ambitious Austrian Leopold the two hour delay of the premiere of his genius son’s opera due to the late arrival of the Duke would be a torture, and the reluctance of the Italian aristocrats to offer the secure big contract he would have hoped for, was a big disappointment. But without him realising, his mission was accomplished. The visits to the Land of music, all three of them, would shape in his son the vision and the pulse to compose the best operas ever written. The knowledge of the Italian language and the fascination with the Italian naughtiness would make the later meeting between Wolfgang and Lorenzo Da Ponte and his mate the irresistible Casanova would lead the most successful creative collaboration in “the entertainment industry”.
The young Mozart was growing fast. His love for the opera grew even stronger when he fell in love for a first time with the opera singer Aloysia Weber. Her dark, deep eyes, her penetrating voice … The 21 year old young man was swept away!
But his father wasn’t. His father, the philosopher, knew that the charm of a singer is a short-lived illusion. Wolfgang was a genius and Mannheim, despite its best orchestra in Europe, was way too provincial and small for what was ahead of him. “You are going to Paris!” the Comendatore ordered and Mozart obeyed. The singer was left behind by the touring musician and soon found her own way in the arms of another man and into a comfortable and suitable marriage.
Mozart hated Paris. He hated it even more when his mother - his rock, protector and shelter - suddenly died. Perhaps drinking the dirty Parisian water supplied directly from the Seine.
He was heartbroken and very lonely.
The life of Wolfgang would then change forever. He could no longer live in Salzburg with his father. He could not be anybody’s employee. He needed to be free and to make his own way in the world. He packed his bags, gave his sister a hug and left for Vienna to become rich and famous. On his own. The Genius was breaking free from his father. He would be the Master of his own faith. At the age of twenty five Wolfgang Amadeus took his talent into his own hands. Mozart was an international star and his goal was to meet the Emperor who would support his ideas and talent. And he did very soon after his arrival. He soon became well known and popular amongst the Viennese society due to his entrepreneurial spirit. There were not enough theatres available for the speed of Mozart's productivity. But he had to perform! He had to find a solution! He would hire different and quite unusual places to play concerts - restaurants, ball rooms, taverns. Mozart would become the first self-promoter, setting up the stage for Beethoven and the following “independent” musicians. Very quickly he met like-minded friends as well. His frequent meetings with Haydn, perhaps enjoying a glass or two of Hungarian Tokay wine and playing some quartets - both composers being excellent violinists - led to the composition of some of his most beloved string quartets.
Haydn was so taken by the young man that he told his father Leopold that his son is the biggest talent he has encountered and that he will remain in history. How generous of Haydn and how fulfilling for Leopold!
Wolfgang also learnt the art of the fugue and counterpoint in depth after being introduced to the music of Bach and Händel by one of his patrons. It was a period of great expansion. He was content, popular, and quite rich. The time had come to get married. The first available candidate, and also what a source of a great revenge, was the YOUNGER sister of Aloysia - the singer who broke his heart, Constanze. Argh, how foolish! Everybody was against it! His family, her family, even the police got involved.
But the young man was determined to assert his will. He moved his newly obtained young wife and himself into a swanky big apartment, bought a posh piano, a billiards table, and a bird! Mozart loved animals and was allowed to have several dogs during his childhood - a cute fox-terrier included, but the animals that inspired his music the most were the birds. His starling who lived with him in Vienna eventually had more pompous funeral than Mozart himself. He claimed that the bird whistled the theme of the third movement of his 17th piano. The stuff musicians hear!
Amongst the other things in Mozart's Viennese life there were also two children! A girl and a boy. Both were playing music and the son was taught composition and piano by no other but Salieri. By all accounts the young Franz Xaver was a talented and capable composer, but what a bad luck to have Amadeus, the God’s Favourite for a father!
However, the wave Mozart was surfing on was to break. The days of doom and gloom arrived in the Mozarts luxury flat. Illness hit Constanze who had to be sent away to the luxury baths in Baden whilst her Wolfi had to stay in the cold Vienna and provide for the bills. It was very unfortunate that Mozart fell ill as well. Had he remained healthy, had he recovered from his illness, he would have enjoyed the huge success of "The Magic Flute", would have written many more symphonies, operas, quartets, concertos, sonatas... Perhaps the good fortunes would return. Had he not been commissioned a Requiem which made him think that was a sign and he was doomed, had he not believed he was dying he could have perhaps reached Haydn’s old age. Had he lived in different times of medicine and science as we do, lucky us, he would have lived. But he didn’t. The last piece of music, the famous Lacrimosa which he wrote in his bed at the age of thirty five was meant to provoke tears. To tear you apart. The young man was saying goodbye to life.
Mozart’s death was not unacknowledged. His entrepreneurial effort, his exuberance, his love for fun, his immense talent, his ability to speak to the Gods and to the people in the taverns in equal measures had made him hugely popular. His might had been a modest funeral, but once the news of his death spread, the people of Vienna gathered in big crowds to say farewell to their beloved Maestro.
If the super coach Leopold and his wife Anna would board a time machine and travel 230 years forward in time to arrive in 2024, would they be pleased with what their son had achieved? They would discover that their son’s enormous popularity - the one Leopold predicted and programmed - has surpassed all their expectation. Mozart would be a name associated with music and genius all around the globe, even by the people who recognised the name, but do not know who composed that melody on their phones or any of Mozart’s music. There would be a plethora of merchandise available - from golden chocolates, electric scooters and bikes, watches, clothes to potatoes. The family royalties from streaming and usage in films, commercials, television, radio, podcasts and anything in existance would be immense. Mozart would be the richest man on Earth.
Nobody - not even Federer, Michael Jordan, Paul McCartney or Coldplay could measure up to his success.
There are streets named after Mozart in:
Vienna
Salzburg
Prague
Paris
London
Berlin - all ten of them!
Tokyo
Toronto
Chicago Philadelphia
Los Angeles
Indiana
Melbourne
There are hundreds of films, books and dissertations about him.
His music is played every day all around the globe 233 years after his death.
If that is not amazing, what is!
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