op. Being assured of a steady income, he married Anna Maria Partl in the cathedral on November 21, 1747 when he was 28 years old and his bride was 27. These two were a good match because years later it would be recalled that, "The two Mozart parents were in their day the handsomest couple in Salzburg." Leopold would write from Italy on the occasion of their silver anniversary: "Today is the anniversary of our wedding day. It was twenty-five years ago, I think, that we had the sensible idea of getting married, one, which we had cherished, it is true, for many years. All good things take time!" The Mozart had seven children, five of which died in infancy. The two that survived were called Maria Anna Walburga Ignatia and Johann Chrysostom Wolfgang Gottlieb, proved to be a musical prodigy. Leopold's own musical activity decreased as he became aware of his children's talents and assumed the multiple roles of parent, teacher, collaborator and manager. He stopped composing and neglected his professional duties altogether to devote himself more fully to his children's musical development. Of the five prince-archbishops that Leopold would serve in his 44 years in the court orchestra, two would greatly affect his career and that of his son. Count Sigismund Christoph Schrattenbach was fond of music. He appointed Leopold vice-Kapellmeister in 1763 and gave him much freedom to promote his son's career. Agreeing with Schrattenbach's blessing, Leopold and his family embarked on several trips including a "grand tour" of more than three years that took them as far as Paris and London. Count Hieronymus Colloredo elected archbishop in 1772, was personally very fond of music but slow to rationalize its use in his court and church. He also had a dictatorial temperament and booked no criticism. He treated the court musicians as servants, and would make no exceptions. This didn't go well with Leopold, who by nature was resentful and suspicious of authority. H...
