Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – his life in Salzburg

Mozart’s Early Years in Salzburg

The Childhood Home in Getreidegasse – Mozart Geburtshaus

On January 27, 1756, Wolfgang let out his first cry on the third floor of the house at Getreidegasse 9. The “Hagenauer Haus” was cramped, loud, and full of life. Here he learned the violin and harpsichord, and his first compositions were created here—even before he could read or write. It was also here that the phenomenon began which would keep Europe in suspense through extensive travels.

Move to the Tanzmeisterhaus: Parties, Friends, and Target Shooting – Mozart Wohnhaus

In 1773, the Mozart family moved to the other side of the Salzach river into the spacious Tanzmeisterhaus (Dancing Master’s House) on Makartplatz. This is a place you should not miss during your visit to Salzburg. Here, the Mozarts’ social life unfolded. They welcomed guests, played music, and indulged in a curious hobby: Bölzlschießen (target shooting with air rifles). Mozart loved this pastime and often made fun of the “stuffy” citizens of Salzburg. However, masterpieces that are world-famous today were also created in these rooms.

Which works did Mozart compose in Salzburg?

It is often forgotten that Mozart did not just become a master in Vienna. In Salzburg, he created, among others:

• The famous Salzburg Symphonies
• All five Violin Concertos (in a single year: 1775!)
• The festive Haffner Serenade
• Church music for the Cathedral, including the Coronation Mass

The Conflict with Prince-Archbishop Hieronymus Colloredo

One of the most exciting aspects of Mozart’s time in Salzburg

Genius vs. Obedience

Everything changed with the accession of Hieronymus Colloredo. Colloredo was a man of the Enlightenment—sober, frugal, and strict. He demanded discipline and constant presence from his musicians. For the travel-loving free spirit Mozart, who saw himself as a worldly artist, this was torture. Mozart felt treated like a servant. He had to wait in the antechamber with the valets and was often not allowed to give his own concerts to earn money. In his letters to his father, he vented his anger and complained about the “arch-villain.”

The Legendary Kick: The End of the Salzburg Years

The conflict escalated in 1781. Mozart was in the Archbishop’s entourage in Vienna and wanted his freedom. He demanded his dismissal. The Archbishop’s chief chamberlain, Count Arco, finally had enough of the rebellious composer.

It came to the most famous anecdote in Mozart’s professional life: Count Arco threw Mozart out the door with a kick in the behind. This kick was painful, but historically speaking, it was a liberation. Mozart stayed in Vienna, became a freelance artist, and composed his greatest operas.

Mozart’s Legacy: From Unloved Son to Landmark

Salzburg struggled for a long time with its famous son who had turned his back on the city. It was not until 1842, over 50 years after his death, that the Mozart Monument was unveiled—in the presence of his two sons. Generous patrons abroad and in Vienna—among them King Ludwig I of Bavaria—made the pedestal and the bronze statue by Ludwig Schwanthaler possible.