Mozart Chronology

1756: 27 January: Mozart born in Salzburg, the youngest child of Leopold Mozart and his wife, Anna Maria.

1761: Mozart's first composition: Minuet & Trio for piano, K1/1e.

1762: 12 January: Leopold Mozart travels to Munich with his two children; 18 September: Mozart family sets off for Vienna; arrives there 6 October and remains in Vienna until 31 December.

1763: 9 June: Mozart family sets off on European tour; 18 November: family arrives in Paris; Mozart composes his first sonatas for piano and violin. 1764: 10 April: Mozart family departs Paris for London; 23 April: Mozart family arrives in London and remains there for fifteen months. Mozart meets Abel and J.C. Bach. First Symphony in E flat, K16, possibly written late in 1764.

1765: Mozart composes pieces for piano, two and four hands, including the Sonata for four hands, K19d, as well as more symphonies. 24 July: the family leaves London and travels throughout the Low Countries; 10 September: arrival in The Hague; family remains there until end of March the following year. September: Mozart's sister Nannerl seriously ill with typhus; mid-November Mozart is ill with typhus and doesn't fully recover until early 1766.

1766: Mozart family spends February in Amsterdam and returns to The Hague at the end of March; more sonatas for piano and violin written. Further travels; 10 May: family arrives in Paris; 29 November: family arrives back in Salzburg.

1767: April: Mozart composes his first piano concerto, K37, based on sonata movements by Raupach and Honauer; 13 May: first performance (in Salzburg) of Apollo et Hyacinthus, K38. More piano concertos, symphonies and sacred cantatas. 11-15 September: Mozart family travels to Vienna.Smallpox epidemic in Vienna and Mozart family leaves and travels to Brünn and Olmütz. Mozart ill with smallpox late October; Nannerl also ill.

1768: 10 January: Mozart family back in Vienna; 19 January: Mozart has an audience with Maria Theresia and Emperor Joseph II. April-July Mozart composes opera La finta semplice, K51/46a; late summer Mozart composes singspiel Bastien und Bastienne, K50/46b. 7 December: Waisenhaus Mass, K139/47a. Late December: Mozart family leaves Vienna for Salzburg.

1769: 5 January: Mozart family back in Salzburg. 1 May: La finta semplice premiered in Salzburg. Mozart composes serenades and cassations, and sacred works; 14 November: named Konzertmeister of the Salzburg Hofkapelle (unsalaried); 13 December: Mozart and his father set off on Italian tour; 27 December: the Mozarts arrive in Verona.

1770: they travel to various Italian cities. 15 March: the Mozarts leave Milan and travel to Lodi where Wolfgang writes his first string quartet, K80/73f in G major; 24 March: meets Padre Martini in Bologna; 3/4 April: in Florence Mozart meets Thomas Linley, English violinist (1756-78), and they become close friends; 26 June: Mozart arrives in Rome and on 5 July is given the insignia of the papal order. Several symphonies composed during this period. 8 July: the Mozarts have a private audience with the Pope. 10 August-1 October: the Mozarts stay near Bologna at the estate of Field Marshall Pallavicini; Mozart starts work on his opera seria, Mitridate, re di Ponto, K87/74a; premiered in Milan on 26 December. Throughout October Mozart has daily studies with Martini; 10 October: receives the diploma of the Bologna Accademia Filarmonica; 12 October: certificate from Martini.

1771: 5 January: Wolfgang named Honorary Kapellmeister of the Verona Accademia Filarmonica. Further travels in Italy. 11 February: the Mozarts arrive in Venice and Wolfgang gives a concert there on 5 March. Leaves Venice and arrives back in Salzburg on 28 March. During the summer composes various sacred works, symphonies and the sacred singspiel La Betulia liberata, K118/74c. 13 August: start of second Italian journey. Works on the opera Ascanio in Alba, K111; 17 October: opera premiered in Milan in the presence of Archduke Ferdinand; 30 November: the Mozarts have a private audience with Archduke Ferdinand; 5 December: leave Milan and return to Salzburg.

1772: March: works on the opera Il sogno di Scipione, K126; opera is performed in the Salzburg Residenz in honour of Count Colloredo (became Prince Archbishop of Salzburg in March). Mozart composes more symphonies, sacred sonatas, lieder, divertimenti, etc. 21 August: Wolfgang is appointed Konzertmeister at Salzburg. October: starts work on opera seria, Lucio Silla, K135; 24 October: Leopold and Wolfgang undertake third Italian journey; 26 December: Lucio Silla premiered in Milan.

1773: 17 January: motet Exsultate, jubilate, K165/158a performed in Milan. Early March: the Mozarts leave Milan and arrive back in Salzburg on 13 March. Wolfgang composes string quartets, divertimenti, sacred pieces and symphonies. July: Leopold and Wolfgang leave for Vienna; 5 August: audience with the Empress; 12 August: audience with the Archbishop; 26 September: return to Salzburg; 5 October: Symphony No.25 in G minor, K183/173dB. December: composes first completely original piano concerto, K175 in D major.

1774: Mozart composes various symphonies including No.29, K201/186a in A major, piano sonatas, sacred works, the Bassoon Concerto, K191/186e. September: starts work on the opera buffa, La finta giardiniera, K196. 6 December: Mozart travels to Munich and stays there three months.

1775: 13 January: La finta giardiniera premiered in Munich in presence of Elector Maximilian III. March 6: Mozart returns to Salzburg. 23 April: Il re pastore performed at Salzburg. Violin concertos, piano sonatas and sacred pieces composed during 1775.

1776: January: Wolfgang composes Piano Concerto No.6 in B flat, K238, Serenata notturna, K239. February: Concerto for 3 pianos, K242. July: "Haffner" Serenade, K250/248b. November: "Credo" Mass, K257. Other works in 1776 include church sonatas, divertimenti, sacred works.

1777: January: Piano Concerto No.9 in E flat major, K271. 23 September: Wolfgang travels with his mother to Munich; stays there until 11 October; travels to Augsburg; 26 October: leaves Augsburg; 30 October: arrives in Mannheim and stays there for over four months; meets other important musicians in Mannheim, including Cannabich. November: composes the Piano Sonata in C major, K309/284b (for Cannabich's daughter Rose).

1778: February/March: composes sonatas for piano and violin; 14 March: Wolfgang and his mother leave Mannheim; 23 March: the Mozarts arrive in Paris; April: composition of Sinfonia concertante for winds, K297B/Anh.9; Concerto for flute and harp, K299/297c; 17 May: Leopold Mozart performs the Missa brevis in C major, K259 in Salzburg for the consecration of Colloredo. June: composition of Symphony No.31 in D major, K297/300a "Paris". July 3: death of Mozart's mother after short illness. 26 September: Mozart leaves Paris and travels to Strasbourg and then onto Mannheim. 9 December: Mozart leaves Mannheim and arrives in Munich on 25 December, where he stays with the Weber family. Other compositions during 1778 include: Flute Concertos; Oboe Concerto; Piano Sonatas in A minor, K310/300d, and A major, K331/300i.

1779: 13 January: Mozart leaves Munich for Salzburg. 23 March: completion of the Mass in C major, K317 "Coronation". Composes more sonatas, divertimenti, church sonatas, Concerto for 2 pianos, K365. Late summer: Mozart composes the Sinfonia concertante in E flat major for violin & viola, K364/320d. Starts work on singspiel Zaide, K344/336b.

1780: August: Symphony No.34 in C major, K338; Vesperae solennes de confessore, K339. 5 November: Mozart travels to Munich where he stays for four months. 1 December: first rehearsal of Idomeneo.

1781: 29 January: Idomeneo premiered in Munich. Oboe Quartet, K370/368b; Wind Serenade in B flat major, K361/370a "Gran Partita". October: Serenade in E flat major, K375. November: Sonata in D major for 2 pianos, K448/375a. Other compositions include piano pieces and sonatas for piano and violin. Mozart takes on his first pupils during the summer months and participates in various concerts and soirées.

1782: composes a group of fugues for piano (mainly fragments); vocal canons for differing numbers of voices; works on Die Entführung aus dem Serail. 16 July: Die Entführung premiered in Vienna. Late July: composes Serenade in C minor, K388/384a; Symphony No.35 in D major, K385 "Haffner"; 4 August: Mozart marries Constanze Weber. Autumn: Mozart composes the Piano Concerto No.12 in A major, K414/385p; Horn Quintet, K407/386c; 31 December: String Quartet in G major, K387 (first of the set of six dedicated to Haydn).

1783: 27 May: Horn Concerto, K417; work on the Mass in C minor, K427/417a; 17 June: birth of first child: Raimund Leopold. Mozart and Constanze travel to Salzburg (without Raimund Leopold). 9 August: baby dies of intestinal cramp. String Quartet in D minor, K421/417b. October: Mass in C minor (incomplete) is performed in St Peter's Church; 27 October: Mozart and Constanze depart Salzburg for Linz. Mozart composes Symphony No.36 in C major, K425 "Linz", premiered in Linz on 4 November. Early December: Mozart and Constanze in Vienna. Horn Concerto, K447.

1784: 9 February: Mozart starts his catalogue of works and the first entry is the Piano Concerto No.14 in E flat major, K449. 15 March: Piano Concerto No.15 in B flat major, K450; 22 March: Piano Concerto No.16 in D major, K451; 30 March: Quintet for Piano and Wind, K452; 12 April: Piano Concerto No.17 in G major, K453; 23 August: Mozart's sister Nannerl marries; 21 September: birth of Mozart's second child, Carl Thomas (died 31 October 1858); 30 September: Piano Concerto No.18 in B flat major, K456; 14 October: Piano Sonata in C minor, K457; 9 November: String Quartet in B flat, K458 "Hunt"; 11 December: Piano Concerto No.19 in F major, K459; 14 December: Mozart accepted into freemason lodge Zur Wohltätigkeit as apprentice.

1785: 7 January: Mozart is elevated in freemason lodge to journeyman; 10 January: String Quartet in A major, K464; 14 January: String Quartet in C major, K465 "Dissonance"; 10 February: Piano Concerto No.20 in D minor, K466; 11 February: Leopold Mozart arrives in Vienna and lives in the Mozart household; 9 March: Piano Concerto No.21 in C major, K467; 20 May: Fantasie in C minor for piano, K475; 24 April: Leopold Mozart leaves Vienna; 1 September: set of six quartets dedicated to Haydn published; 16 October: Piano Quartet in G minor, K478; 10 November: Masonic Funeral Music, K477/479a; 16 December: Piano Concerto No.22 in E flat major, K482. Mozart accepts a new pupil: Thomas Attwood.

1786: 3 February: Der Schauspieldirektor, K486; 2 March: Piano Concerto No.23 in A major, K488; 24 March: Piano Concerto No.24 in C minor, K491; 7 April: Mozart's final academy concert in the Burgtheater; 29 April: Mozart finishes Le nozze di Figaro, K492; 1 May: premiere of Figaro in the Burgtheater; 3 June: Piano Quartet in E flat major, K493; 26 June: Horn Concerto, K495; 19 August: String Quartet in D major, K499; 18 October: birth of Mozart's third child, Johann Thomas Leopold (baby dies 15 November); 4 December: Piano Concerto No.25 in C major, K503; 6 December: Symphony No.38 in D major, K504 "Prague".

1787: 11 January: Mozart arrives in Prague; 17 January: Figaro performed in Prague to great acclaim; 18/19 January: Academy concert in Prague; 18 February: Mozart leaves Prague for Vienna; 4 April: last known letter from Mozart to his father; 19 April: String Quintet in C major, K515; 16 May: String Quintet in G minor, K516; 28 May: Leopold Mozart dies, aged sixty-seven, in Salzburg; 14 June: Ein musikalischer Spaß, K522; 10 August: Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K525; 1 October: Mozart travels to Prague with Constanze; 28 October: premiere of Don Giovanni, K527, in Prague; 13 November: Mozart and Constanze leave Prague for Vienna; 7 December: Mozart is named royal and imperial chamber musician; 27 December: Mozart's fourth child, Theresa, is born (dies 29 June 1788).

1788: 24 February: Piano Concerto No.26 in D major, K537 "Coronation"; 7 May: Viennese premiere of Don Giovanni; 26 June: Symphony No.39 in E flat major, K543, Piano Sonata in C major, K545; 25 July: Symphony No.40 in G minor, K550; 10 August: Symphony No.41 in C major, K551 "Jupiter". Mozart's financial and material worries seriously increase. Other compositions include vocal canons, dances, piano sonatas, sonatas for piano and violin, etc.

1789: March: Mozart's edition of Handel's Messiah (as K572); 10 April: Mozart arrives in Prague; secures contract for a new opera from impresario Guardasoni; 12 April: Mozart arrives in Dresden and two days later plays to Elector Friedrich August III; 18 April: Mozart leaves Dresden and travels to Leipzig; 12 May: concert of Mozart's music in the Gewandhaus; 19 May: Mozart arrives in Berlin; 26 May: concert at court of Friedrich Wilhelm II. June: String Quartet in D major, K575 "Prussian". 29 September: Clarinet Quintet in A major, K581. During the summer Mozart's financial worries grow. November 16: Mozart's fifth child, Anna Maria, is born and dies one hour after birth.

1790: 26 January: Così fan tutte premiered at the Burgtheater; 20 February: Emperor Joseph II dies and is succeeded by Leopold II. Mozart's financial problems persist and he seeks new pupils in an effort to improve his finances - without success. May: String Quartet in B flat, K589. June: String Quartet in F major, K590. 23 September: Mozart undertakes his last major journey through German cities and arrives in Frankfurt on 28 September. 9 October: Coronation of Leopold II in Frankfurt; Mozart is ignored at the ceremonies; 15 October: Mozart plays his piano concertos, K459 and K537 and conducts his own works at an academy concert in Frankfurt; 24 October: Mozart arrives in Mannheim and sees the first German performance of Figaro; 25 October: departs Mannheim and travels back to Vienna. 14 December: Mozart attends farewell dinner for Haydn before he makes his first journey to London.

1791: 5 January: Piano Concerto No.27 in B flat major, K595. 4 March: Mozart's final appearance in a concert when he plays Piano Concerto No.27. May: Mozart starts work on Die Zauberflöte. 17 June: composes motet Ave verum corpus, K618, in Baden. 26 July: birth of Mozart's sixth child, Franz Xaver (died 29 July 1844). July: Mozart receives commission to write La clemenza di Tito, K621, and starts work on the opera. 2 September: Mozart conducts performance of Don Giovanni in Prague; 6 September: La clemenza di Tito is premiered in the National Theatre in Prague and Mozart conducts; Emperor Leopold II attends the performance; 30 September: Mozart conducts the premiere of Die Zauberflöte in the Freihaus-Theater auf der Wieden in Vienna. October: Clarinet Concerto in A major, K622, and possible start of work on the Requiem. 15 November: Freimaurerkantate, K623; 20 November: Mozart seriously ill and takes to his bed. 4 December: bedside rehearsal of the still unfinished Requiem, K626; 5 December: Mozart dies at one o'clock in the morning.
Raymond McGill