Mozart's Decline: Final Illness & Legacy

On 20/11/1791, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s health deteriorated sharply in Vienna, leaving him permanently bedridden for the final fifteen days of his life. The decline followed a brief period of improved spirits after the premiere of his Kleine Freimaurer-Kantate (K. 623) on 18/11/1791. Contemporary accounts describe that by 20 November he developed severe physical symptoms, including pronounced swelling of the limbs that prevented movement, high fever, headache, vomiting, and a widespread rash. The edema reportedly became so extreme that he could not turn in bed without assistance. Despite the severity of his condition, witnesses noted that he remained mentally alert. During this period, Mozart focused intensely on completing the unfinished Requiem in D minor (K. 626). Friends and family later recalled that he dictated passages, discussed orchestration, and reviewed sections while confined to bed. On 04/12/1791, the day before his death, Mozart reportedly gathered singers at his bedside to rehearse completed portions of the work. According to accounts preserved by those present, the group sang through movements including the Introitus and parts leading into the Lacrimosa. Mozart is said to have attempted to sing the alto line but became overcome and unable to continue. He died in Vienna in the early hours of 05/12/1791, leaving the Requiem incomplete. Why This Moment Matters The events beginning on 20/11/1791 mark the start of Mozart’s documented final illness, during which he continued working despite complete confinement to bed. The bedside rehearsal of the Requiem shortly before his death became one of the most frequently cited contemporary recollections of his final days.