Mozart Cities - Members of the European Mozart Ways have documented Mozart's stays in Milan

Specifically, he stayed in Milan from 28th January to 15th March

1770, from 18th October 1770 to around 14th January 1771, from 31st January to around 4th February 1771, from 21st August to 5th December 1771, and from 4th November 1772 to around 4th March 1773. On 23rd January 1770, both Mozart father and son arrived in Milan, marking their first stay out of the five. The Augustinian monks of Salzburg provided them with accommodation in the monastery of St. Marco through a recommendation. Upon his arrival in Milan, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart swiftly began composing and producing works such as arias and mottets for castrati. He went on to perform for the city's nobility and eventually received his first coveted commission for a new opera.

In March 1770, Mozart and his team departed the city and returned in the autumn with their latest opera, Mitridate, Re di ponto; the first of Mozart's three Milanese operas. During this period, they resided in private quarters at Largo Augusto, focusing on numerous rehearsals. On the 26th of December, Mitridate, Re di Ponto had its premiere in Milan and was a great success. Wolfgang

Amadeus himself conducted the first three performances on the piano and the audience reacted with enthusiasm. The "Regio Ducal Theatre" was sold out for months.

This was followed by a series of excursions through Italy, including visits to Turin and Venice. The staging of Mozart's next Milan opera, "Ascanio in Alba" (K. 111), during their fourth stay in October 1771 at the Regio Ducal Teatro was similarly successful. This was in honour of the wedding celebrations of Archduke Ferdinand and Maria Beatrice Ricciarda d'Este.

In December of the same year, while they were on their journey back home to Salzburg, they received news of the death of Salzburg Prince Archbishop Schrattenbach, who had been kind to them. He was also their primary commissioner. However, the new commissioner, Count Colloredo (from April 1772), held a different perspective towards music and spending. They only received permission to return to Milan once more (November 1772). During their stay, they presented "Lucio Silla", W.A. Mozart's third opera in Milan (K. 135). This opera seria was performed consecutively for 25 times. Subsequently, on March 4, 1773, they witnessed their final Milan visit.

Photo: © City of Milan