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WolfgangAmadeusMozart27January1756–5December1791),wasaprolificandinfluentialcomposeroftheClassicalera.chronologyWesternclassicalmusicfallsbetweentheBaroqueandtheRomanticperiods.Classicalmusichasalighter,clearertexturethanBaroquemusicandislesscomplex.Bytheageoffivehecouldreadandwritemusic.Bytheageofsixhewaswritinghisfirstcompositions.Mozartwasgenerallyconsideredtobeararemusicalgenius,thoughMozartsaidthathewasdiligentinstudyingothergreatcomposerssuchasHaydnandBach.DuringMozart'syouth,hisfamilymadeseveralEuropeanjourneysinwhichheperformedaschildprodigies.AfterfinallyreturningfromItalyon1773,MozartwasemployedasacourtmusicianbytherulerofSalzburgbutgrewincreasinglydiscontentedwithSalzburgandredoubledhiseffortstofindapositionelsewhere.FewyearslaterMozartresignedhispositionandventuredoutoncemore.InJanuary1781,Mozart'soperaIdomeneopremieredwithconsiderablesuccessinMunich.ThefollowingMarch,hewassummonedtoVienna,Mozart'snewcareerinViennabeganwell.Heperformedoftenasapianist,andalsoprosperedasacomposer,andin1782completedtheoperaTheAbductionfromtheSeraglioanditachievedahugesuccess.TheworkwassoonbeingperformedthroughoutGerman-speakingEurope,andfullyestablishedMozart'sreputationasacomposer.TheplotconcernstheattemptoftheheroBelmonte,assistedbyhisservantPedrillo,torescuehisbelovedKonstanzefromtheseraglioofPashaSelim.InDecember1784,MozartbecameaFreemason.FreemasonryplayedanimportantroleintheremainderofMozart'slife:Aroundtheendof1785,MozartbeganhisfamousoperaticcollaborationwiththelibrettistLorenzoDaPonte.1786sawthesuccessfulpremiereofTheMarriageofFigaroinVienna.ItsreceptioninPraguelaterintheyearwasevenwarmer,andthisledtoasecondcollaborationwithDaPonte:theoperaDonGiovanni.ThetwoareamongMozart'smostimportantworksandaremainstaysoftheoperaticrepertoiretoday.IttellshowtheservantsFigaroandSusannasucceedingettingmarried,foilingtheeffortsoftheirphilanderingemployerCountAlmavivatoseduceSusannaandteachinghimalessoninfidelity.DonGiovannisanoperaintwoactsbasedonthelegendsofDonJuan,afictionallibertineandseducer.Mozart'smusicstandsasanarchetypeoftheClassicalstyle.Atthetimehebegancomposing,Europeanmusicwasdominatedbythestylegalant.Progressively,andinlargepartatthehandsofMozarthimself,thecontrapuntalcomplexitiesofthelateBaroqueemergedoncemore,moderatedanddisciplinedbynewforms.ThecentraltraitsoftheClassicalstyleareallpresentinMozart'smusic.Clarity,balance,andtransparencyarethehallmarksofhiswork,butsimplisticnotionsofitsdelicacymasktheexceptionalpowerofhisfinestmasterpieces,suchasthePianoConcertoNo.24inCminor,K.491;theSymphonyNo.40inGminor,K.550.AsMozartmatured,heprogressivelyincorporatedmorefeaturesadaptedfromtheBaroque.TheinfluenceoftheSturmundDrang(StormandStress)periodinmusic,withitsbriefforeshadowingoftheRomanticera,isevidentinthemusicofbothcomposersatthattime,SymphonyNo.25inGminorK.183isanexcellentexample.Mozartwouldsometimesswitchhisfocusbetweenoperasandinstrumentalmusic.HeproducedoperassuchasTheMarriageofFigaro,DonGiovanni,andDieZauberflöte.IntheoperatheQueenoftheNightpersuadesPrinceTaminotorescueherdaughterPaminafromcaptivityunderthehighpriestSarastro;instead,helearnsthehighidealsofSarastro'scommunityandseekstojoinit.Separately,thentogether,TaminoandPaminaundergoseveretrialsofinitiation,whichendintriumph,withtheQueenvanquished.TheearthyPapageno,whoaccompaniesTaminoonhisquest,failsthetrialscompletelybutisrewardedanywaywiththehandofhisidealfemalecompanionPapagena.