“He was no doubt the most comprehensive musical genius of all ages,” wrote Kurt Pahlen about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (“Sinfonie der Welt”, Schweizer Verlagshaus, Zurich 1978). “There was no composer who wrote operas and oratorios, symphonies and serenades, sonatas and songs, quartets and choirs, masses and divertimenti with the same degree of perfection” – an opinion that the Austrian conductor and musicologist no doubt shares with numerous other experts. Following the brilliant Mozart Year 2006 (250th anniversary of his birth), the next anniversary of this great composer is to be celebrated this year: the day of Mozart’s death recurs for the 220th time on 5 December. Good enough reason for a new commemorative, whose contemporary motif was created by the famous stamp artist Sylvia Moucka.

Mozart’s last works and early death: Following the first performance of “La clemenza di Tito” in Prague, Mozart returned to Vienna in the middle of September 1791 and immediately began preparations for the first performance of the “Magic Flute”. At the same time, he composed the motet “Ave verum corpus” and began writing down the Requiem (KV 626) that he was not to complete. A few weeks after the first performance of the “Magic Flute” on September 30, 1791, Mozart took to his bed, and died at one o’clock in the morning on 5 December. He was buried the next day, not having reached the age of 36. Subsequently, a wide range of possible causes of his death were suggested, including “prickly heat”, rheumatism, syphilis, trichina, kidney and heart failure, bloodletting and pharyngitis. However, modern medicine tends most to assume a streptococcal infection that was insufficiently treated and hence led to heart or organ failure. He himself was convinced that he had been poisoned and during a visit to the Prater a few weeks before his death told his wife Constance: “I am sure have been given poison.” However, there are no documented indications for his having been poisoned. The first legends were already circulating shortly after Mozart’s death, the most famous accused being his allegedly jealous fellow-composer Antonio Salieri.
The musical genius was buried in a common grave at the St Marx Cemetery in Vienna. In 1855, the position of his grave was determined as far as was possible, and in 1859 a monument was erected at the assumed position and later transferred by the City of Vienna to the group of honorary graves for musicians at the Central Cemetery. Monuments in Salzburg, Vienna and many other towns still today recall this brilliant composer.

Source: Austria Post 

published November 8th, 2011