Maria Anna Mozart

Maria Anna Mozart, or "Nannerl" as family called her, is the older sister of the famous child prodigy Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and daughter of Leopold and Anna Maria Pertl Mozart.

Early Life of Maria Anna Mozart

Maria Anna Walburga Ignacia Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria, on July 30/31, 1751. In her own right, she was a pianist and composer. At first, she was seen as the musical equivalent of Wolfgang. Like him, she studied with their father, composer and violinist Leopold Mozart, and showed a precocious talent at the keyboard. With her gifted younger brother, she toured extensively in Western Europe and the Vienna region. In London, she got top billing in concert advertisements written by her father. Aside from her exceptional brilliance at the keyboard, she was also a skilled improviser, but eventually, was outshone by her brother in improvisation and composition.

Growing Years of Nannerl Mozart

As the children grew, and with Nannerl five years older than Wolfgang, she was seen too old to be exhibited as a child prodigy when in 1769 Wolfgang and their father went to Italy. There after she stayed at home in the Salzburg region except for brief journeys to Munich. Onwards, Nannerl became a supporting star.

Underdeveloped Composer

Maria Anna was a capable composer, but her gifts remained underdeveloped in the social climate of those times. Wolfgang thought highly of his sister's ability, as demonstrated in his letters to her. When in 1770 she sent her brother a song, he wrote from Italy that he had forgotten how well she could compose.

Maria Anna's Life Without Wolfgang Mozart

In 1781 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart left Salzburg to freelance and get a new life in Vienna. With her younger brother's perceived rebellion, her life was seen as even more controlled by their father, Leopold, who chose even her suitors. In 1784, at the age of 33, she married Johann Baptist Franz von Berchtold zu Sonnenburg (1736-1801), a magistrate, and had three children. They lived in St. Gilgen, a village in Austria. Only their eldest son survived childhood.

Later Years of Maria Anna Mozart

Somehow, her relationship with Wolfgang became distant especially after his marriage to Constanze Weber, and resumed only briefly after Leopold's death in 1787. Nannerl was an active teacher. After her husband's death in 1801, Maria Anna "Nannerl" Mozart returned to Salzburg and supported herself once again by giving piano lessons. She died on October 29, 1829, aged 78, and was buried in St. Peter's cemetery. It is not known what else she wrote. Today, none of her compositions are known to have survived.

Sources:

Sadie, Julie Anne and Rhian Samuel, ed. The Norton/Grove Dictionary of Women Composers. W.W. Norton & Company. London, 1995.

Sadie, Standley, ed. The Grove concise Dictionary of Music. Macmillan, London, 1994

Maria Anna Nannerl Mozart

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