Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: 11 Facts

1. Mozart Was Born on a Full Moon

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on January 27, 1756, during a full moon. According to folklore, children born during a full moon are thought to be particularly blessed or gifted. Mozart’s incredible musical talent certainly supports this belief.

2. Mozart Had a Fascination with Numbers

Mozart was not only a musical genius, but he was also fascinated with numbers. He was particularly interested in the number 23, which he believed was significant and appeared frequently in his life. He even wrote a musical composition called “A Musical Joke,” which he claimed had exactly 23 mistakes.

3. Mozart Was a Pet Lover

Mozart was a devoted animal lover and kept several pets throughout his life, including a dog named Pimperl and a starling named Star. He was particularly fond of Star and even wrote a song that imitated the bird’s chirping.

4. Mozart Composed Music for Masonic Ceremonies

Mozart was a Freemason, and he composed several pieces of music for Masonic ceremonies. His most famous Masonic-inspired work is the opera “The Magic Flute,” which contains many Masonic symbols and references.

5. Mozart Was a Fashion Icon

Mozart was known for his distinctive sense of style and was a trendsetter of his time. He favored colorful and ornate clothing, often donning silk jackets with frilled shirts, buckled shoes, and powdered wigs. He was not afraid to experiment with fashion and was often seen sporting bold and daring attire.

6. Mozart Was Obsessed with Death

Mozart had a preoccupation with death that is evident in many of his works. He composed a requiem mass shortly before his own death, and the piece has since become one of his most famous and haunting works.

7. Mozart Was a Social Butterfly

Mozart was a social butterfly who enjoyed the company of others and loved to entertain. He was known for his witty banter and lively personality and was a popular figure among the aristocracy of his time.

8. Mozart Had a Secret Love Affair

Mozart had a secret love affair with a woman named Aloysia Weber, who was a talented singer and the sister of one of his close friends. The affair was short-lived, and Mozart eventually married Aloysia’s younger sister, Constanze.

9. Mozart Was a Child Prodigy

Mozart’s musical talent was evident from a young age, and he was already composing and performing by the age of six. His father recognized his son’s gift and devoted himself to his son’s musical education, often taking the young Mozart on tour throughout Europe to showcase his talents.

10. Mozart Was a Practical Joker

Mozart had a mischievous side and was known for playing practical jokes on his friends and colleagues. He once convinced a group of his friends to climb into an empty carriage, only to discover that it was full of manure.

11. Mozart’s Skull Is Missing

After Mozart’s death, his body was buried in an unmarked grave in Vienna. In the 1800s, his grave was discovered and exhumed, but his skull was missing. The mystery of Mozart’s missing skull has never been solved.

In conclusion, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was not only a musical genius, but he was also a complex and fascinating figure with many unusual quirks and passions. His love of numbers, fashion, pets, and practical jokes are just a few of the many intriguing aspects of his life. Mozart’s legacy continues to captivate and inspire music lovers around the world, and his influence can still be heard in modern-day music.

Fact Sources:

“Mozart: A Life” by Maynard Solomon, Harper Perennial, 1996.

“Mozart: The Man Revealed” by John Suchet, Pegasus Books, 2016.

“The Magic Flute” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Metropolitan Opera, 2019.

“Mozart and Freemasonry” by Julian Rushton, BBC Music Magazine, June 2011.

“The Cambridge Mozart Encyclopedia” edited by Cliff Eisen and Simon P. Keefe, Cambridge University Press, 2006.