Mozart's Return to Salzburg: Court Organist and Concertmaster

On 15/01/1779, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart arrived back in Salzburg following an extended journey through Mannheim and Paris that had begun in 1777. The trip had been undertaken with the aim of securing a permanent position outside Salzburg, but despite contacts with musicians and patrons, Mozart did not obtain a long term appointment. During the stay in Paris, his mother, Anna Maria Mozart, died on 03/07/1778, leaving Mozart to travel back alone. After remaining in Paris for several months, he began the return journey, eventually reaching Salzburg in January 1779. Shortly after his return, Mozart accepted a new position at the Salzburg court under Prince-Archbishop Hieronymus Colloredo. He was appointed court organist and Konzertmeister, a dual role that included composing church music, directing performances, and playing the organ for court services. Although the appointment provided stable income, Mozart’s letters from the period indicate that he viewed the position as limiting compared with opportunities he had sought in Mannheim and Paris. The responsibilities focused largely on liturgical and court functions rather than public concerts or opera production. The return to Salzburg in January 1779 therefore marked a temporary resettlement after nearly two years of travel. Mozart remained in this position until 1781, when tensions with Colloredo led to his departure and move to Vienna. The arrival on 15 January 1779 thus concluded his unsuccessful search for employment abroad and began his final period of service in Salzburg.