January 27th marks the birthday of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. In honor of the prolific and influential composer, we put together some interesting facts about the life of this great musician.
Musical Prodigy
The son of a well-known violin teacher and occasional composer, Mozart was known to absorb music quickly with little effort. By the age of four, Mozart composed his first piano concerto with notes correctly written down and arranged following contemporary musical rules. From then on Mozart was taught the art of composing. At the age of six, he composed the future number 1 of the Köchel catalogue, a minuet and a trio for keyboard. By the age of 12, he had composed ten symphonies and was performing for royalty.
When Beethoven Met Mozart
When he was 17 years old, prodigy Ludwig van Beethoven arrived at Mozart’s home. Armed with a letter of introduction from Mozart's friend, Beethoven wished to be taught by his idol. Upon arrival, Mozart asked him to play something of his own composition. An impressed Mozart agreed to take him on as a pupil, telling his wife and their friends, "Watch out for that boy. One day he will give the world something to talk about."
Unfortunately for Beethoven, he soon received a letter from his father stating that his mother was sick with consumption — he would have to return home immediately. Beethoven would never get to study under his hero, and by the time he returned to Vienna five years later, Mozart had passed.
Debt
During his life, Mozart, was often plagued with debt. Many believe that his chronic overspending was to blame; even though the family was never in danger of starving, he refused to cut costs during bad times.
At the end of the 1780s, the Austro-Turkish war created hard times for all musicians and artists as prosperity in Vienna declined, so did the financial support of the aristocracy. This deficit was worsened in 1788 when Mozart's wife had to go to a medical spa for ulcerated varicose veins. Mozart filled his final years with a flurry of work in an attempt to pay his debts down. Among these works was his final opera "Die Zauberflöte" (The Magic Flute), an immediate success. | 
