Mozart's Teenage Years, 1769-1775

Travels, Compositions and Performances of Young Wolfgang Amadeus

Oct 12, 2007

Life and works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as a teenager. Places he traveled, his compositions and performances.

The teenage years of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart were significant and important as he undertook more travels and compositions in the employ of the older supportive Archbishop of Salzburg, and later, a new less sympathetic one.

1769: Mozart was 13

November 27. Leopold Mozart, Wolfgang's father, received 120 ducats from the Archbishop of Salzburg for their visit to Italy.
Wolfgang is given the job of concertmaster at the Salzburg court. There is no money involved, but it's a career step up.
The father and son Mozarts travel to Verona via Innsbruck.
Mozart writes the three cessations, light pieces of music for a small group of musicians.

1770: Mozart was 14

Mozart performs in Verona, Mantua, Milan, Bologna, Florence, Rome and Naples.
April 11, Ash Wednesday. An important highlight popularly accounted. In Rome, Mozart hears Allegri's Miserere in the Sistine Chapel. Later, he writes out perfectly the piece from memory.
July 5. Mozart is made a 'Knight of the Golden Spur' by Cardinal Pallavicini. Three days later, wearing the insignia, he was presented to the pope in Palazzo Santa Maria Maggiore.
December 26. Mozart's opera Mitridate Re di Ponto is performed in Milan.
Mozart composes his first string quartet, symphonies and an opera

1771: Mozart was 15

January 5. Mozart is nominated an honorary director to the Accademia Filarmonica of Verona.
Mozart spends spring in Venice. He only stays in Salzburg for about four months, then he's off to Italy all through the remaining year.
More compositions. Mozart is commissioned for Milan, Lucio Silla (Lucius Sulla). In Padua, he is asked to compose oratorio La Betulia liberate (The Liberation of Bethulia, text by Metastasio. Ascanio in Alba is commissioned to celebrate the wedding of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria, given in Milan.
Aged 15, he is going up to Symphony No. 14.

1772: Mozart was 16

Mozart is appointed concertmaster in Salzburg, this time with a salary. Hallelujah! He was also allowed by his employer to take time off some months in Milan.
As the old Archbishop dies, the new Archbishop of Salzburg is elected. Mozart's Il Sogno di Scipione (Scipio's Dream) is given in his honor.
December 26. Opera Lucio Silla's first performance of the 26 performances at the Teatro Regio Ducal, in Milan.
Mozart continues composing more operas. A great year for symphonies, many of them published, including three string quartet.
Mozart starts to write divertimenti (lighter music)

1773: Mozart was 17

Mozart dreams of working in Vienna, but uncertain about support from the Empress.
Mozart writes Exsultate, jubilate for Venanzio Rauzzini, a castrato. Today, this is usually sung by a soprano, most popular recording of which is by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.
October 5. Mozart completes his symphony No.25.

1774: Mozart was 18

Mozart writes primarily for his employer, the Archbishop of Salzburg.
Mozart writes Bassoon Concerto.
April 4. Mozart's incidental music Thamos, King in Egypt, is first performed in Vienna.
Mozart is commissioned to write the opera La finta giardiniera.

1775: Mozart was 19

January 13. More performances of other works. Mozart's opera buffa La finta giardiniera (The False Gardener) is first performed in Munich. It was a big success.
April 23. Il rè pastore (The Shepherd King) is performed in Salzburg.
Mozart composes his first five Violin Concertos.

Sources:

The Chronicle of Classical Music by Alan Kendall, Thames and Hudson (1994)

The Grove Concise Dictionary of Music and Musicians, 2nd Ed, edited by Stanley Sadie, MacMillan (2000)

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