Classical music · Salzburg and Vienna · 1756–1791

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Life & Career Timeline

Child prodigy, independent composer and a theatre of extraordinary musical character.

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WAWolfgang Amadeus MozartClassical music · Salzburg and Vienna

1756Born in Salzburg27 January 1756 · Salzburg, Prince-Archbishopric of Salzburg

1761First keyboard compositionsc. 1761 · Salzburg

1762Performs for the imperial courtSeptember 1762 · Vienna, Habsburg Monarchy

1763Grand European tour1763–1766 · Western Europe

1764Meets J. C. Bach1764–1765 · London, England

1768La finta semplice1768 · Vienna and Salzburg

1769First Italian journeyDecember 1769 · Italy

1770Mitridate commissioned5 July 1770 · Milan, Italy

1770Bologna Academy admits MozartOctober 1770 · Bologna, Italy

1773Returns to Salzburg service1773 · Salzburg

1777Leaves in search of a postSeptember 1777 · Mannheim and Paris

1778Mother dies in Paris3 July 1778 · Paris, France

1781Breaks with Salzburg courtJune 1781 · Vienna

1782Marries Constanze Weber4 August 1782 · Vienna

1786The Marriage of Figaro premieres1 May 1786 · Vienna

1787Don Giovanni premieres29 October 1787 · Prague, Bohemia

1791The Magic Flute premieres30 September 1791 · Vienna

1791Dies while writing the Requiem5 December 1791 · Vienna

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About this timeline

About Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Mozart absorbed Europe’s musical languages and transformed opera, concerto, chamber music and symphony within a brief career.

Page updated 2026-09-12

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This public timeline is created and maintained by Memmie Editorial Team.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart biography

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart timeline: key events

Explore 18 documented Moments in chronological order. Read the dates, locations and source references below. Where available, additional context explains why a milestone matters.

27 January 1756Salzburg, Prince-Archbishopric of Salzburg

Born in Salzburg

Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart was born to Leopold and Anna Maria Mozart.

Source: mozarteum.at

c. 1761Salzburg

First keyboard compositions

Leopold Mozart wrote down short pieces created by the five-year-old Wolfgang.

Source: mozarteum.at

September 1762Vienna, Habsburg Monarchy

Performs for the imperial court

Wolfgang and his sister Maria Anna played before Empress Maria Theresa.

Source: mozarteum.at

1763–1766Western Europe

Grand European tour

The Mozart family performed in courts and cities from Munich to Paris, London and the Netherlands.

Source: mozarteum.at

1764–1765London, England

Meets J. C. Bach

Johann Christian Bach’s galant style influenced the young composer’s concertos and symphonies.

Source: mozarteum.at

1768Vienna and Salzburg

La finta semplice

Mozart composed an early full-length opera buffa amid disputes over its Viennese production.

Source: mozarteum.at

December 1769Italy

First Italian journey

Mozart and Leopold began a tour of opera centres, aristocratic courts and musical institutions.

Source: mozarteum.at

5 July 1770Milan, Italy

Mitridate commissioned

The teenage composer received a major opera seria commission for the Teatro Regio Ducale.

Source: mozarteum.at

October 1770Bologna, Italy

Bologna Academy admits Mozart

After an examination, the Accademia Filarmonica accepted the fourteen-year-old composer.

Source: mozarteum.at

1773Salzburg

Returns to Salzburg service

Mozart worked under Prince-Archbishop Colloredo while developing symphonies and concertos.

Source: mozarteum.at

September 1777Mannheim and Paris

Leaves in search of a post

Travelling with his mother, Mozart sought stable employment and encountered Mannheim’s orchestra.

Source: mozarteum.at

3 July 1778Paris, France

Mother dies in Paris

Anna Maria Mozart’s death deepened a difficult journey marked by professional disappointment.

Source: mozarteum.at

June 1781Vienna

Breaks with Salzburg court

After conflict with Archbishop Colloredo, Mozart pursued an independent career in Vienna.

Source: mozarteum.at

4 August 1782Vienna

Marries Constanze Weber

Constanze became Mozart’s partner, copyist and later an important guardian of his legacy.

Source: mozarteum.at

1 May 1786Vienna

The Marriage of Figaro premieres

Mozart and Lorenzo Da Ponte adapted Beaumarchais into a socially charged comic opera.

Source: mozarteum.at

29 October 1787Prague, Bohemia

Don Giovanni premieres

The opera fused comedy, drama and supernatural judgment in a daring musical structure.

Source: mozarteum.at

30 September 1791Vienna

The Magic Flute premieres

Mozart’s singspiel combined popular theatre, Masonic imagery and demanding vocal writing.

Source: mozarteum.at

5 December 1791Vienna

Dies while writing the Requiem

Mozart died aged thirty-five, leaving the Requiem unfinished; Franz Xaver Süssmayr completed a performing version.

Source: mozarteum.at

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This educational timeline is not endorsed by or affiliated with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart or their representatives. Event text is original editorial copy based on the linked sources.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · Public-domain work; file metadata on Commons

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Quick answers

About the Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart timeline

Who is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart?

Mozart absorbed Europe’s musical languages and transformed opera, concerto, chamber music and symphony within a brief career.

How many moments are included?

This public timeline currently contains 18 sourced moments spanning 1756–1791.

Who maintains this timeline?

This public timeline is created and maintained by Memmie Editorial Team. Schools, clubs and cultural organisations can apply to become timeline partners.

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