Even if Mozart is mainly seen as a composer, there are many documents mentioning concerts performed by the genius from Salzburg. In 1789, due to financial reasons, he travelled to a few cities to perform in front of aristocrats of the time. During his journey, he performed concertos and arrangements in Dresden, Leipzig and Berlin.
One of the most notable of Mozart’s performances took place at the Berlin Theatre, for King Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia. The representation should have taken place earlier that year, in Potsdam. However, even if Mozart was already an important figure in Vienna and his home town, he didn’t have complete access to other royal houses in Europe and, thus, he had been denied his first appearance.
On his way to Berlin, Mozart made a stop in Dresden, Germany, at the Hôtel de Pologne, often known as the Hotel of Poland. There, he played together with Anton Teyber. The following day, while still in Dresden, he performed his piano concerto no. 26 before Frederick Augustus I of Saxony. Here, Mozart managed to commission a few works and increase his popularity, both needed to ensure good revenue for the following years.
During his two stays in Leipzig, Mozart performed twice. The first time, he played the organ in the St. Thomas Church, but this wasn’t basically a concert. The second one, however, took place a month later at Gewandhaus on a May evening. Literally meaning "the cloth hall”, Gewandhaus was an important concert hall in the city. The concert was a success, but the earnings were low.
Those were years marked by financial difficulties, which haunted him until his death in 1791. The composer tried to earn money from public representations. However, seen from the distance, it’s quite obvious that it was the private support that helped him overcome his economic problems, and by no means the general audience.
One of the most notable of Mozart’s performances took place at the Berlin Theatre, for King Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia. The representation should have taken place earlier that year, in Potsdam. However, even if Mozart was already an important figure in Vienna and his home town, he didn’t have complete access to other royal houses in Europe and, thus, he had been denied his first appearance.
On his way to Berlin, Mozart made a stop in Dresden, Germany, at the Hôtel de Pologne, often known as the Hotel of Poland. There, he played together with Anton Teyber. The following day, while still in Dresden, he performed his piano concerto no. 26 before Frederick Augustus I of Saxony. Here, Mozart managed to commission a few works and increase his popularity, both needed to ensure good revenue for the following years.
During his two stays in Leipzig, Mozart performed twice. The first time, he played the organ in the St. Thomas Church, but this wasn’t basically a concert. The second one, however, took place a month later at Gewandhaus on a May evening. Literally meaning "the cloth hall”, Gewandhaus was an important concert hall in the city. The concert was a success, but the earnings were low.
Those were years marked by financial difficulties, which haunted him until his death in 1791. The composer tried to earn money from public representations. However, seen from the distance, it’s quite obvious that it was the private support that helped him overcome his economic problems, and by no means the general audience.
