Mozart's birthplace (German:Mozarts Geburtshaus orHagenauerhaus) is the birthplace ofWolfgang Amadeus Mozart at No. 9Getreidegasse inSalzburg, Austria. TheMozart family resided on the third floor from 1747 to 1773, and Mozart was born in the residence on 27 January 1756.[1] He was the seventh child ofLeopold Mozart, who was a musician with the Salzburg Royal Chamber.[2]
Since 1880, the building has housed a museum, which depicts the early life of Mozart, his first musical instruments, his friends, and his passionate interest inopera. The third floor exhibits Mozart's childhoodviolin as well as portraits, documents, and early editions of his music, and the second floor is devoted to Mozart's interest in opera and includes theclavichord on which he composedThe Magic Flute. The structure is owned by the Mozart Foundation.[3]
The house was built in the 12th century[4] on ground which had been part of the garden belonging to theBenedictine monks ofSt Peter's, Salzburg. Otto Keutzel, a merchant, is mentioned as the owner in 1408 while Chunrad Fröschmoser, the court apothecary, purchased the property in 1585. On the doorway, the coiled serpent in the lion's mouth, the symbol ofAsclepius, still testifies to his ownership. In 1703, the house came into the ownership of the Hagenauer family who had arrived in Salzburg around 1670, including Joseph Matin Hagenauer and Johann Laurenz Hagenauer who became Mozart's landlord.[4]
After marryingAnna Maria Pertl on 21 November 1747,Leopold Mozart rented the apartment on the third floor which consisted of a kitchen, a small cabinet, a living room, a bedroom and an office.[4] It was their residence until 1773, and their seven children were born here; only two,Maria Anna and Wolfgang Amadeus, survived. Leopold Mozart was in constant touch through letters with his landlord during theMozart family grand tour between 1763 and 1766.
The family moved out of the premises in 1773;[5] greater prosperity and the need for space led them to move into more spacious quarters in theTanzmeisterhaus, also a Mozart museum today.
A museum since 1880,[4] Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart birthplace introduces visitors to the early life of the composer, his first musical instruments, his friends and his passionate interest inopera. The third floor exhibits Mozart's childhoodviolin,harpsichord, as well as portraits, documents, family letters, and early editions of his music. There are also records of his life in Vienna and of his wife and family. The second floor is devoted to Mozart's interest in opera and includes theclavichord on which he composedThe Magic Flute. The first floor replicates living conditions in Mozart's day with period furniture. Original documents and paintings illustrate his life in Salzburg.[2][6][7] Other items in the museum are an incomplete portrait of Mozart painted byJoseph Lange, his brother-in-law in 1789 (one of Mozart's striking portraits[2]), pictures of his childhood, and his childhood violin.[5]
Bibliography
47°48′0″N13°2′36″E / 47.80000°N 13.04333°E /47.80000; 13.04333
| Biography | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Music |
| ||
| Family |
| ||
| Influences | |||
| Related | |||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
