Mozart family grand tour

The Mozart family grand tour was a journey through western Europe, undertaken by Leopold Mozart, his wife Anna Maria, and their children Maria Anna (Nannerl) and Wolfgang Theophilus (Wolferl) from 1763 to 1766. At the start of the tour the children were aged eleven and seven respectively. Their extraordinary skills had been demonstrated during a visit to Vienna in 1762, when they had played before the Empress Maria Theresa at the Imperial Court.

The first stage of the tour's itinerary took the family, via Munich and Frankfurt, to Brussels and then on to Paris where they stayed for five months. They then departed for London, where during a stay of more than a year Wolfgang made the acquaintance of some of the leading musicians of the day, heard much music, and composed his first symphonies. The family then moved on to the Netherlands, where the schedule of performances was interrupted by the illnesses of both children, although Wolfgang continued to compose prolifically. The homeward phase incorporated a second stop in Paris and a trip through Switzerland, before the family's return to Salzburg in November 1766.

The material rewards of the tour, though reportedly substantial, did not transform the family's lifestyle, and Leopold continued in the Prince-Archbishop's service. However, the journey enabled the children to experience to the full the cosmopolitan musical world, and gave them an outstanding education. In Wolfgang's case this would continue through further journeys in the following six years, prior to his appointment by the Prince-Archbishop as a court musician.

Child prodigies

The Mozart children were famous young musicians in the 1700s. They were not the only child prodigies of that time. Other children, like William Crotch from Norwich, could also play music very well at a very young age. People were very excited about these talented children because they were fun to watch and could bring in money.

Leopold and Anna Maria Mozart had seven children, but only two lived—their daughter Maria Anna, called Nannerl, and their son Wolfgang. They were taught at home by their father. Both children were very good at music. Nannerl started playing the harpsichord when she was seven, and Wolfgang showed his amazing talent even earlier. By the time he was four, Wolfgang could write simple music pieces.

In 1762, when Nannerl was eleven and Wolfgang was nearly seven, their father took them to Vienna. There, they played for important people, including the Empress Maria Theresa. They were very popular and earned a lot of money, though Wolfgang got sick with scarlet fever during their visit.

Grand tour

Leopold Mozart planned a journey through western Europe for his children, Maria Anna (Nannerl) and Wolfgang. They were very skilled musicians and had impressed people in Vienna. The tour started in 1763 when the children were eleven and seven years old.

The family traveled through many places, including southern Germany, the Austrian Netherlands, Paris, Switzerland, and northern Italy. They also visited London and the Netherlands later. Leopold wanted to show off his children’s talents at many European courts and cultural centers. They faced some delays and challenges, like broken carriages and illnesses, but they kept performing and composing music all along the way. The tour ended in 1766 when they returned home to Salzburg.

Evaluation

The Mozart family's journey through western Europe brought both financial and musical rewards, though it also came with high costs. Leopold Mozart kept track of their spending, which was often matched by their earnings from concerts. At times they had enough money, and at other times they needed to find new ways to make more.

Musically, this journey helped Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart grow amazingly. He composed many pieces, including symphonies and sonatas, that showed his growing skill. The experiences he had, meeting royalty and travelling to different places, gave him a rich education. Although the busy schedule was hard on him, it led to wonderful music that continues to be enjoyed today.

Aftermath

After their grand tour, the Mozart family stayed in their small apartment on Getreidegasse, and Leopold went back to his job as a court musician. But for the next six years, Wolfgang spent most of his time traveling and performing. In September 1767, the family moved to Vienna and stayed there until January 1769, except for a short time when they had to leave because of a smallpox epidemic. Later, in December 1767, Leopold and Wolfgang went to Italy. Nannerl, now 18, stayed home because she was too old to perform as a child prodigy. They visited Italy three times in total. The last long trip ended in March 1773. By then, the new Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg, Hieronymous Colloredo, had different ideas about how court musicians should work, which changed things for Leopold and Wolfgang.