Salzburg era

Wolfgang A. Mozart spends large parts of 1771-1777 in Salzburg. This period begins with the death of Archbishop Graf Schrattenbach, whose successor turns out to be Hieronymus Graf Colloredo. Colloredo employs Mozart as his court concertmaster and gives permission to the leaves of Mozart, which he needs for assignments in Milan. This is a more quiet time in the life of Mozart and gives room for numerous compositions. But the tensions between Mozart and his master, the Archbishop of Salzburg, grow.

In the need of change, Mozart takes leave to go to Paris again, accompanied by his mother only. At the first stop in Mannheim, Mozart falls in love with Aloysia Weber. There, he also makes contact to J. C. Cannabich, conductor of the famous orchestra of Mannheim. Mother and son continue their travels to Paris in 1778. In July of this year, his mother passes away in Paris – Mozart is devastated.

He returns to Salzburg once more to take up the position as court organist of the archbishop. Only two years later in 1781, though, Mozart gets into a severe fight with the Archbishop during their stay in Vienna, when Emperor Joseph II takes the throne. Mozart finally splits up with Salzburg and begins a new life in Vienna.