Mozart Mythbusters

This site is dedicated to the dispelling of the numerous myths which surround Mozart's childhood, compositions, personality, relationships, and death.
TEN COMMON MOZART MYTHS
1. Leopold Mozart was a terrible father who used and mistreated his son.
2. Mozart completed all of his compositions in his head before he wrote them down.
3. Mozart's early compositions were actually written by Leopold.
4. Mozart's marriage to Constanze was happy and mutually satisfying.
5. Mozart died in poverty, and was buried in a pauper's grave.
6. Mozart had a love affair with Catarina Cavalieri.
7. Mozart and Salieri were enemies.
8. Salieri murdered Mozart by poisoning him.
9. Mozart died of overwork and alcoholism.
10. Mozart was rude, arrogant, and misbehaved in public.
The above common myths, as well as others will be reviewed and discussed. In addition, I will discuss the impact of the film, Amadeus upon Mozartean history and the propagation of the myths regarding Antonio Salieri and Mozart's untimely death.
I will also feature a discussion on how and why Mozart's widow, Constanze Weber, created the most common Mozart myth, that being that Mozart died in poverty and was actually buried in a pauper's grave.
Never was Mozart less recognizably a great man in his conversation and actions than when he was busied with an important work...Either he intentionally concealed his inner tension behind superficial frivolity, for reasons which could not be fathomed, or he took delight in throwing into sharp contrast the divine ideas of his music and these sudden outbursts or vulgar attitudes, and in giving himself pleasure by seeming to make fun of himself. I can understand that so exalted an artist can, out of a deep veneration for his Art, belittle and as it were expose to ridicule his own personality.
--Joseph Lange, brother-in-law of Mozart