His own master

This was the beginning of the most successful period of his life. Mozart remained in Vienna, thus escaping from the clutches of his overbearing father, earning a living as a freelance musician with commissioned compositions and piano lessons. In 1782 Mozart married Constanze Weber in the Gothic cathedral of St. Stephen, to this day a landmark of the city.

“If I had to marry all the women I’ve laughed with, I’d have at least 200 wives.”

The couple plunged into the musical and social life of Vienna, had six children (only two of whom survived infancy), and stayed together despite several affairs until Mozart’s death. In 1786 Gottfried Freiherr van Swieten, director of the court library in Vienna, invited Mozart to his “Sunday academies”, a series of concerts in the rooms of today’s Austrian National Library. Mozart played the piano for his subsequent patron, and sang in his wonderful countertenor voice.

By command of Joseph II, in 1786 a “musical competition” was held between Mozart and Antonio Salieri, the court musical director. It took place in the orangery at Schönbrunn Palace, a popular meeting place for the high society of Vienna. The emperor expressed his preference for Salieri. Although Mozart, now 30 years old, was now at the peak of his career, he still earned only half as much as Salieri for the performance of his works at the court.

Overview Mozarts Life