WILLIAM J. KOLE: Mozart Wasn't Poor

New Documents Suggest Mozart Wasn't Poor By WILLIAM J. KOLE, Associated Press Writer
19 minutes ago


VIENNA, Austria - For centuries, historians have portrayed Mozart as poor, but new documents suggest the composer was not nearly as hard-up for cash as many have believed.

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A simple column and a sad-looking angel mark the spot where scholars believe he was laid to rest.

No one disputes that Mozart's wealth was long gone by the time he lay on his deathbed.

Researchers at Salzburg's International Mozarteum Foundation say records of Mozart's estate indicate that his widow barely had enough cash to bury him, and that he owed thousands, including debts to his tailor, cobbler and pharmacist.

American composer and music historian Allen Krantz is among those who think that Mozart may simply have been a victim of his own generosity, impulsiveness and largesse.

"Mozart grew up to be undisciplined, unworldly and a soft touch. Money went through his hands like water," Krantz wrote in a recent biography. "Even Mozart's mother, a gentle soul, complained: 'When Wolfgang makes new acquaintances, he immediately wants to give his life and property to them.'"