A child is born in Salzburg with indescribable, incomprehensible talent for music and composition. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart travels the world as a child and rubs shoulders with the greatest composers in Europe.
It wasn't always a thrill for young Mozart. When he was just 12 years old, he was commissioned to write an opera. Overnight, Mozart went from a cute child prodigy to a major threat. The established composers in Vienna, angry that they were skipped over for the commission, threatened to hire protesters to boo and hiss at the performance of Mozart's first major opera. This marked one of many challenges Mozart would overcome.
This is the first of five episodes on Mozart, kicking off our new podcast The Great Composers. The series, hosted by Karla Walker and Scott O'Neil, offers an intimate look at some of history's greatest musical minds. Subscribe so you don't miss an episode.
Check out a timeline of key events in Mozart's life, and hear the music featured in this series in our Spotify playlist below.
Timeline: Key Moments in Mozart's Life
Learn more about pivotal points in this great composer's career:
Featured Music From 'The Great Composers: Mozart'
Check out this Spotify playlist and explore nearly eight hours of music heard in this series.
Explore other podcasts from CPR Classical: Centennial Sounds, featuring Colorado performances of music by 21st-century composers; and The Beethoven 9 @ 9, a look at Beethoven's life through his nine symphonies.
