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The life of the world-famous composer, although born in Salzburg, is inextricably intertwined with Vienna. Mozart moved to the city in 1781 after he had fallen out with his sponsor, the Archbishop of Salzburg. It was here that he wrote his greatest works and celebrated all his triumphs and misfortunes until he died, aged 35.

When Beethoven (1770–1827) gave his first concert in the Vienna Court Theatre in 1795 he already had a reputation as an excellent pianist. Born in Bonn, he moved to Vienna aged 22 to receive tuition from Joseph Haydn and, briefly, Mozart. In 1805 his opera Fidelio premiered at the Theater an der Wien (see p111).

Along with Mozart and Beethoven, Haydn (1732–1809) is the third important composer of the Vienna Classic period (1770–1830). Haydn moved to Vienna from the countryside, aged eight, to become a choir boy at Stephansdom cathedral. In his house at Haydngasse 19 he wrote his greatest works, such as the oratory The Creation (1796–8).

Schubert (1797–1828) was the twelfth child born in the family home at Nussdorfer Strasse 54. Although he composed many symphonies, it is for his songs that he is best remembered.

Vienna’s “Waltz King” (1825–99) was the most successful of a dynasty of composers and musicians. He wrote more than 500 dance pieces, among them the Blue Danube Waltz (1876), which became Austria’s unofficial national anthem. He is buried at Zentralfriedhof (see p124).

Brahms (1833–97) was born in Hamburg but became the musical director of the Vienna Singakademie, a choral society, in 1862. For three seasons he directed the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, but from 1878 he devoted all of his time to composition. Brahms is also buried at the Zentralfriedhof.

Born in a small town northwest of Vienna, Bruckner (1824–96) moved to the capital in 1868 when he became a professor at the city’s musical academy. Well respected today, his contemporaries were critical about his music and some pieces were never performed during his lifetime.

Schönberg (1874–1951) was the founder of the 12-tone serial technique and became one of the most distinguished composers of the 20th century. He left Vienna in 1933 in the wake of National Socialism and died in the US.

Mahler (1860–1911) composed 10 symphonies and song cycles, yet during his lifetime he was better known as a conductor. He was the musical director of the Staatsoper (1897–1907) and led the opera into its golden age.

Berg (1885–1935) is known for his operas Wozzeck (1925) and the unfinished Lulu . During the National Socialist regime, his music was considered indecent and banned from public stages.