Skip to content
    skip to navigation

    Classic FM

    Listen

    On Air Now

    Katie Breathwick 1am - 4am

    Katie Breathwick

    Now Playing

    Tannhauser - Overture Richard Wagner Download 'Tannhauser - Overture' on iTunes

    Tannhauser - Overture artwork
    • Playlist
    • Schedule
    • Home
    • Radio
    • News
    • Discover Music
    • Composers
    • Artists
    • Win
    • Store
    • Charity
    • Podcasts
    • Events
    • Dating
    • Follow us on:
      Follow Classic FM on Facebook
      Follow Classic FM on Instagram
      Follow Classic FM on Youtube

    Composers

    Mozart

    • Mozart Home
    • Music
    • News
    • Pictures
    • Album reviews
    • Guides
    • More Composers

    Mozart - a timeline of the great composer's life

    Discover the key events in Mozart's biography, with links to each relevant story of his life.

    1. young mozart

      1. Mozart is born - a genius from birth?

      Born on January 27th 1756, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart took to music at a frighteningly early stage in his life. But was he born a genius? Find out more about Mozart's early years, his full name and how old he was when he learned his first piece of music by clicking the biography link below.

    2. young mozart

      2. Mozart's first concert and a European tour (1762 - 1765)

      The young Mozart was, as we know, an early starter when it came to music. But he was especially young to be a concert pianist in 1762, and even more remarkable to be a touring concert pianist throughout Europe. Find out what he got up to, how his father masterminded the whole thing and what those early concerts did for Mozart's reputation in the biography link below.

    3. young mozart in concert

      3. Mozart's first opera (1766 - 1769)

      How young was Mozart when he composed his first opera? What happened after his epic touring schedule finished? And were the people of Europe right to suspect that the young composer had been passing off his father's work as his own? Find out by clicking the biography link below.

    4. Allegri

      4. Mozart and Allegri's Miserere

      The legendary story of how Mozart copied out Allegri's Miserere note for note has gone down in the annals of classical music history. But what exactly happened when Mozart sat down and listened to this incredible piece in 1770?

    5. young mozart

      5. Mozart moves to Italy (1770 - 1773)

      Early opera successes soon gave way to some work in Italy, and before he knew it Mozart was a hit in Milan, Naples, Bologna... find out why the crowds chanted "Long live the Little Maestro!" in our biography below.

    6. A portrait definitely identified as Mozart

      6. Tragedy strikes the Mozart family (1774 - 1778)

      Mozart had spent so much time with his father over the years that it's easy to forget the influence that his mother had on his life. It was never felt more keenly than in 1778 when she suddenly died.

    7. key people in mozart's life

      7. Mozart meets Constanze Weber

      Mozart married Constanze when he was 26, having, some years previously been smitten by her sister, Aloysia. Constanze's family was not particularly well-off and Leopold did his best to put Mozart off the idea. They seemed to make a very good couple, and she certainly stayed with him through thick and thin.

    8. mozart and constanze weber

      8. Mozart's first child (1779 - 1783)

      It was a time of happiness for Mozart as his personal life went through his marriage and the arrival of his first child - but the happiness was not to last long, and the darkness that characterised his later life began to rear its ugly head.

    9. key people in mozart's life

      9. Mozart's final year (1791)

      The last year of Mozart's life was, to say the least, tumultuous. Find out exactly how it broke down - from who commissioned his last work to who was with him at the very end - in our biography article below.

    Mozart latest

    See more Mozart latest

    What music will be played at the funeral of Pope Francis?

    What music will be played at the funeral of Pope Francis?

    Discover Music

    Is this what Mozart really looked like?

    Have scientists solved the 230-year-old mystery of Mozart’s real face?

    Anna Dennis sings ‘The Queen of the Night’

    Soprano stuns by singing Mozart’s ‘Queen of the Night’ aria in shopping centre surprise

    Yuja Wang, Nicola Benedetti and Yo-Yo Ma

    What does ‘concerto’ mean in classical music, and what is its history?

    Discover Music

    Mozart and Elgar both loved their pets.

    8 classical composers who absolutely adored their pets

    Discover Music

    Mozart never completed his Requiem.

    Five pieces of classical music inspired by true horror

    Maria Anna and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Was Mozart’s sister actually the most talented musician in the family?

    Mozart fans queue to hear newly discovered work in Leipzig

    ‘Mozart dropped a new single’ – classical fans queue to hear newly discovered work in Leipzig

    Best classical music

    See more Best classical music

    The 15 most famous tunes in classical music

    The 15 most famous tunes in classical music

    Discover Music

    Best symphonies: Ludwig van Beethoven, Antonin Dvorak and Florence Price

    The 15 greatest symphonies of all time

    Discover Music

    4 eras of classical music

    The 4 eras of classical music: a quick guide

    Discover Music

    A young Marin Alsop, Sir Simon Rattle, and Seiji Ozawa conduct their respective orchestras.

    The 25 greatest conductors of all time

    Discover Music

    Hildegard von Bingen, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Edward Elgar among the greatest composers in classical music history.

    The 30 greatest classical music composers of all time

    Latest on Classic FM

    Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman in 2009

    Who were the Sherman Brothers, Hollywood’s most prolific musical duo?

    Discover Music

    When Tom Cruise came on set, Simon Pegg and ‘The Final Reckoning’ cast had the Mission Impossible theme in their head

    Simon Pegg: ‘We sang the Mission Impossible theme a lot in the cast. Whenever Tom walks on set!’

    Discover Music

    UK’s only string instrument-making degree set to close

    UK’s last surviving string instrument-making degree set to close

    Curious baby boy playing toy piano at home

    Does classical music really make babies smarter?

    Discover Music

    Unseen footage reveals Dick van Dyke singing ‘Mary Poppins’ with THE Richard Sherman on piano

    Unseen footage reveals Dick van Dyke singing ‘Mary Poppins’ with THE Richard Sherman on piano

    Discover Music

    Austrian artist JJ won the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest with his song, "Wasted Love."

    Austrian Eurovision winner JJ is a countertenor who sang with the Vienna Opera

    Who is Anna Lapwood? The trailblazing organist and conductor’s age, biography and performances

    Who is Anna Lapwood? The trailblazing organist and conductor’s age, biography and performances

    Netflix releases series inspired by Vivaldi’s ‘Four Seasons’

    What classical music is featured in Netflix’s The Four Seasons, and how is it inspired by Vivaldi’s masterpiece?

    Vivaldi

    Young audience members can enjoy classical concerts at a low price across the UK

    15 cheap classical music concert ticket schemes for young audiences

    Discover Music

    ‘Sinners’ composer Ludwig Göransson breaks down his movie soundtrack

    ‘Sinners’ composer Ludwig Göransson breaks down his movie soundtrack

    Discover Music

    Back to top

    Also on Classic FM

    • Listen to Global Player
    • Classic FM Breakfast with Dan Walker
    • John Williams
    • Alexander Armstrong on Classic FM
    • Quizzes
    • Leonard Bernstein
    • Mozart
    • Debussy
    • Music theory
    • Instruments
    • Classic FM Live
    • Brahms
    • Vivaldi
    • Bach
    • Tchaikovsky
    • Chopin
    • Andrea Bocelli
    • Florence Price
    • Beethoven
    • Best classical music
    • Classic FM Requests
    • Best pianists
    • Harry Potter music
    • Star Wars soundtrack
    • Composer or pasta
    • Music for Studying
    • Best violinists
    • Classical music tearjerkers
    • Relaxing classical

    Useful Links

    • Contact Us
    • Help
    • How To Listen
    • About Classic FM
    • Company Details
    • Cookies
    • Privacy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Advertise
    • Global Jobs

    Download the app

    Get it on the app store Get it on Google Play

    Follow Us

    Follow Classic FM on Facebook
    Follow Classic FM on Instagram
    Follow Classic FM on Youtube
    © Global 2025
    30 Leicester Square, London, WC2H 7LA
    Privacy Manager