How to Appreciate Mozart in Vienna

The Mozarthaus in Vienna

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) is one of the greatest composers of all time. A child prodigy, he wrote his first piece of music at age five and by age eight was performing at the Austrian court. In his 35 years, he would pen 600 musical compositions, from light opera to his "Requiem." Although he was born in Salzburg, Mozart lived his final ten years in Vienna and the city bears many reminders of him.

Instructions

1. Visit the Mozarthaus. The Mozarthaus is where Mozart and his family lived between 1784 and 1787. It is the only one of Mozart's apartments that still exists. The Mozarthaus was opened as a museum in 2006, to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the composer's birth. The tour of the house includes a glimpse at the composer's life, music, friends and foes. The Mozarthaus is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

2. Take a Mozart-themed walking tour. Many of the locations that were important in Mozart's life during his time in Vienna are within an easy walk of one another. Visitors can take one of the many organized tours or grab a good map and head off on their own. Important stops include the Steffl Department Store, which stands on the site where Mozart died and features a memorial to him: Michaelkirche on Michaelplatz, where Mozart's "Requiem" was first played; and the Mozart statue in the Burggarten.

3. View the Mozart Monument at St. Marx Cemetery. Mozart was buried in a simple, unmarked grave with several others. However, the people of Vienna erected a large stone monument in St. Marx Cemetery near where Mozart is thought to be interred.

4. Attend a concert of Mozart's music. Mozart's music is played repeatedly in parks, churches and theaters throughout Vienna. It's an unusual week that doesn't have such a concert. Listening to Mozart's extraordinary music is essential to any Mozart tour.

Resources

• Learn more about the Mozarthaus.