He was baptized as Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart. He composed his first pieces before age 5. He had a truly prodigious memory. As a child, he attended an opera performance, then went home and wrote it down, note-for-note, instrument by instrument, from memory. He most likely suffered from Tourette's syndrome. The first free-lance composer, he spent most of his adult life free of the court patronage system -- yet he died penniless, at age 35 in 1791.Contact Richard Scheinin at 408-920-5069, read his music coverage at www.mercurynews.com/richard-scheinin and follow him at www.twitter.com/RichardScheinin.
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