Mozart's sister, Maria Anna Mozart, called Nannerl, was born on July 30, 1751 in Salzburg. Nannerl, like Mozart, was considered a musical wonder-child and toured with her brother for several years. Her musical gifts, however, were overshadowed by the achievements of her younger brother.
Mozart's Figaro is based on a play by Pierre Caron de Beaumarchais, adapted skillfully by da Ponte to the requirements of opera.
Mozart's last and perhaps his finest opera, The Magic Flute (1791), was interestingly the only one of his operas to earn the praise of his bitter rival Salieri.
Both arias of the Queen of the Night, "O zittre nicht, mein lieber Sohn" and "Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen" require high F6, a rarity even in opera.
Rocker Eddie Van Halen named his son "Wolfgang van Halen" in honor of Mozart. In 2006, Wolfgang replaced Michael Anthony as the bassist for Van Halen.
The movie featured Tom Hulce as Mozart. The film won eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
Mozart's Mass in C Minor was largely prompted by his father's and sister's cool reception of his wife, Constanze.
The term "Mozart's ear" describes a deformity of the pinna where the two crura of the antihelix and the crus of the helix are fused. Researchers believe Mozart and his son, Franz, both suffered from this congenital defect.
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