ChronoFive
Play today’s puzzle
Setting the scene
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on January 27, 1756, in Salzburg, Austria, son of violinist and composer Leopold Mozart. Leopold toured Europe with young Wolfgang and sister Nannerl, astonishing courts from Munich to London.
What happened
Mozart composed from childhood, holding posts in Salzburg and Vienna, where he married Constanze Weber in 1782. Masterworks include The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, and his Requiem, left unfinished at his death in 1791 at 35.
Why it still matters
His style perfected Classical-era clarity, melody, and dramatic character in opera and instrumental music. Memorable detail: Mozart once wrote a letter in scatological humor to his cousin—the same genius who could transcribe Allegri's Miserere from memory after one hearing in the Sistine Chapel.
Background
The Magic Flute and Requiem followed.