Mozart's Last Notes Were Written for a Stranger

The last notes Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart ever wrote were eight bars of the Lacrimosa, from a Requiem commissioned in 1791 by a stranger he was forbidden to identify. Ill and convinced he had been poisoned, Mozart came to believe he was writing the Mass for his own funeral, and he died on 5 December 1791 at thirty-five. The client was Count Franz von Walsegg, who planned to pass the work off as his own, and Mozart's widow Constanze had it completed by Franz Xaver Süssmayr and delivered with a forged signature. The Salieri poisoning myth is contradicted by Mozart's own letters, and a 2009 study points to a strep infection instead. (Sources: Mozart's letters, 1791; Annals of Internal Medicine, 2009.) If you enjoyed this story, you can explore the books, audiobook, workbook, and guides from The Midnight Library here: 🕯️📚 👉 https://themidnightart.com/collections/books-audiobooks-guides If you'd like to support the continuation of this work, you can become a member or leave a Super Thanks. 👉 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwGYQ1Lgt_i4pEK0JOdUSzQ/join Support is never expected — but always deeply appreciated. ❤️ Thank you for being here, and for spending this time in the library. 🕯️✨ For those who resonate with the visual world of The Midnight Library, a curated collection of art and apparel inspired by these themes is available here: 👉 https://themidnightart.com/ For ambient, chant, and cinematic music inspired by ancient traditions, visit The Midnight Library Music: 👉 / @themidnightlibrarymusic For intimate and emotional musical compositions, explore The Romantic Guy: 👉 / @theromanticguy Every story in The Midnight Library opens another door. 🕯️🔑 #Mozart #MozartRequiem #Salieri #ClassicalMusic #Shorts #TheMidnightLibrary