Most extraordinary of all musical geniuses was Austria's Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Starting his career as a four-fold infant prodigy (harpsichordist, violinist, organist, composer), he wrote, during his short lifetime of 35 years, more music than most great composers who lived twice as long.
A fondled Wunderkind, he sat in the Empress Maria Theresa's lap, was petted by Madame de Pompadour, spent hours playing private concerts for England's demented music-loving George III. But chronic improvidence and a generous nature gradually brought him into a tangle of debts and grinding responsibilities.
When he died...
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