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| A signal to Mozart's grave at St. Marx Cemetery, in Austria |
Round about the time of the composition of Concerto No. 20, Mozart's fame was already considerable. A Vienesse newspaper, commenting on a concert, mentioned his "well-deserved reputation" and pointed out that Wolfgang was "known universally".
To be truthful, his main source of income was still his music lessons, but he also gave concerts with some regularity, playing as piano soloist. In addition, he had the proceeds from his numerous publications. Considered individually, thet were poorly paid, but the total amount of their sale would have helped him to make ends meet.
Last but not least, one has to consider the earnings accrued from the performances of his operas. Not all yielded all that Mozart would have liked, but some of them certainly did.
Concerto No. 20 - 2nd movement: Romance. Piano: Ivan Klansky
This is why is intriguing that the couple suffered persistent economic hardship, to the extreme that Mozart had to borrow money from some fellow Masons. At the same time he would ask them to send him students, stressing the fact that he charged "low prices".
A number of scholars blame poor Konstanze, accussing her of extravagance, frivolity and a fondness for luxury. Part of it might be true. But one has to consider that, if one year Konstanze was not pregnant it was only because she was sick. Therefore, I prefer the more pragmatic first-hand opinion of Nannerl: "My brother did not know how to run his finances, and Konstanze was unable to help him on this".
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died on December 5, 1791, at the age of 35. The following day the myth of the mass grave and the storm was born. None of it is true. Although no one recorded the exact spot of his resting place, he was not buried in a pauper's grave. And on 6th of December, Vienna saw one of the most placid and sunny afternoons of that Autumm.
Concerto No. 20 - Third movement - Allegro
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