Visit the piano page for free mp3s of the Piano Sonata in C, K. 545, the Piano Sonata in A minor, K. 310, and the Adagio for Glass Harmonica.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) was a child prodigy. His father Leopold was also a composer and recognized his unique musical gift. At the age of six, Wolfgang and his sister Maria Anna presented public concerts in Munich and Vienna. By the age of 15, he was appointed concertmaster in the archbishop of Salzburg's orchestra. At age 25 Mozart left Salzburg for Vienna, where he initially found great success as a performer, composition teacher, and composer of opera. But he ran into financial trouble, partly because of his poor business sense, partly because court politics kept him from lucrative patronage positions. He continued to compose prolifically, but demand for his work was inconsistent. He became ill and died at age 35, buried in a pauper's grave.