Leopold Mozart was already making a significant contribution to music as a performer and composer when his son, Wolfgang Amadeus, was born on January 27, 1756. His precocious talents were quickly noted, and he received a thorough musical training from his father. At the age of six he made his debut as a keyboard player in Munich, and a few months later in Vienna. Paris and London fell under his spell, and by the time he was ten he had a catalogue of works to his credit, many already published. He had composed three operas at the age of twelve, even more remarkable was the fact that one was highly dramatic, the second was a comedy, and the third a light opera.

He was also twelve when he made his conducting debut, and the Archbishop of Salzburg gave him the appointment of Konzertmeister. At the age of 14 he wrote a further dramatic opera, 'Mitridate, re di Ponto', for Milan, which had twenty performances under his baton. His fortunes faltered between the age of 16 and 22, the