Miércoles 30 de julio, 2008.

Today is the birthday of Maria Anna "Nannrel" Mozart, Wolfgang's older sister and his musical role model, born in Salzburg, Austria, in 1751. She and Wolfgang were the only two of their parents' seven children to survive, and their father, Leopold, encouraged both children's musical talent. Wolfgang was inspired to be a musician because he wanted to be like his sister.

Maria, nicknamed "Nannerl," was considered a child prodigy on the harpsichord and piano, and the two children toured and played together. Nannerl even received top billing. We know she wrote music because there are letters from Wolfgang praising her compositions, but none of her work survives. Wolfgang and Nannerl were very close—they made up a secret language and they invented a kingdom where they were king and queen. But as Nannerl grew older, she was expected to end her career and get married. And once she was 18, she had to stay home with her mother while Wolfgang toured with Leopold. Wolfgang wrote to his sister from the road, and he continued to admire her, saying in one letter, "Believe me, you could earn a great deal of money in Vienna for example, by playing at private concerts and by giving piano lessons. You would be very much in demand."

She fell in love, but Leopold didn't approve the match, so she agreed to marry the wealthy man her father had chosen, even though Wolfgang encouraged her to disobey their father and do what she wanted. Nannerl was now called Marianne, and she and her brother grew apart. He rebelled against his father and pursued his music while Marianne settled quietly into domestic life and supported herself by giving piano lessons in Salzburg.