Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) was one of the most influential and prolific composers of the Classical period. Born in Salzburg, Austria, he showed prodigious ability from his earliest childhood, composing from the age of five and performing before European royalty.
Mozart's works span the period during which the Classical style transformed from one exemplified by the style galant to one that began to incorporate some of the contrapuntal complexities of the late Baroque, complexities against which the galant style had been a reaction.