Mozart's Early Adulthood: (1772 - 1780)

     1770              -   Ludwig van Beethoven is born in Bonn, Germany on December 16.

     1771              -   Mozart, almost 16, composes his 14th symphony in December.  It marks his emergence 
                               as a fully matured composer. 

      1772             -   Seven more symphonies, nos. 15 - 21 (There will be 12 more symphonies before he 
                               moves to Vienna in 1781).  The opera Lucio Silla was a "moderate success" in Milan.  

     1773 - 1777  -   Mozart is employed for 3 1/2 years as a court musician by the ruler of Salzburg, 
                               Prince-Archbishop Hieronymus Colloredo.  His salary is low; 1/3 of his father's.  

     1773              -   Mozart and Leopold go to Vienna to find Wolfgang a position.  They fail.

                           -   Symphones Nos. 23, 24, 25 (the "little G minor), and the six Viennese string quartets.

     1775              -   The opera La finta giardiniera flops in Munich in January.  Mozart will stay in 
                               Saltzburg for the next 32 months.  No offers of employment come from other cities.

     1775              -   Mozart composes his last (and best) three violin concertos:  K. 216, K. 218, K. 219   

     1777              -   Mozart composes Piano Concerto No. 9, "Jenamy," his first concerto masterpiece.

     1777              -   Leopold writes Archbishop Colloredo an arrogant request for time off for he and 
                               Wolfgang to travel to find Wolfgang employment, Colloredo terminates the 
                               employment of both. 

     1777 - 1778   -  Mozart travels with his mother looking for employment.  Mozart visits Augsburg, 
                               probably has a sexual relationship with his first cousin.  He then goes to Mannheim 
                               where he falls in love with  Aloysia Weber, older sister of his future wife Constanza 
                               and later the soprano in the premier of Don Giovanni.

                           -   In 1778, while in Paris, his mother who is traveling with him, dies.  Mozart writes  
                               the A minor piano sonata, K. 310/300d and the "Paris" Symphony (No. 31), which 
                               was performed in Paris on June 12 and 18.

     1779              -   Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra in E♭ major, K. 364 

     1780              -   Mozart goes to Munich in November to write the opera Idomeneo. 

     1781              -   In January, Idomeneo premiered with "considerable success." 

                           -   In February, Prince-Archbishop Hieronymus Colloredo moves from Salzburg to
                               Vienna and summons Mozart to meet him there.  On May 9, Mozart gets into a
                               shouting match with Colloredo and quits his job.  A Count Arco tries to mediate, 
                               finds Mozart irrascible, and kicks Mozart "in the ass" while relieving him of his 
                               duties.

                               Mozart had escaped provincial Salzburg (which he detested) and his controlling father.


     1781 - 1791   -   Mozart lives the last 11 years of his life in Vienna, Austria.  This is the era of 
                                his greatest operas, masses, symphonies, string quartets and quintets, piano 
                                concertos and more.