Constanze Mozart, The Classical Genius’ Better Half
When people hear the name Wolfgang Mozart, they probably think about Symphony No. 40 in G Minor—or at least a man in a powdered wig effortlessly conjuring magic at the piano. But what rarely comes to mind? His wife, Constanze Mozart. And yet, to overlook Constanze is to ignore a life just as fascinating, and perhaps even more daring, than that of her legendary husband.
1. She Came From A Musical Family
Born in Germany in 1762, Constanze grew up in an extremely culturally adept family and town. She lived in Mannheim, which served as a well established hub of both the arts and academia. She also had a musical father, Fridolin Weber. He played double bass and worked in the opera as a prompter, which may explain the way he pushed his four daughters into the jobs of his dreams.
Joseph Lange, Wikimedia Commons
2. Her Father Influenced Her Path
Weber insisted his daughters learn classical music. It worked out in his favor. All four turned out to be excellent singers, with Constanze’s two older sisters actually having notable singing careers. That probably explains why, when Wolfgang Amadeuas Mozart finally did show up on the scene, he thought he’d found what he’d been searching for all his life…
Hans Hansen, Wikimedia Commons
3. She Caught His Eye
Mozart and Constanze first laid eyes on each other in 1777. At the time, Mozart already boasted notable music skill, though he was far from the famous piano concertist he’d eventually become. He travelled to Mannheim looking for work, and became well acquainted with the musical Webers. One Weber in particular caught his eye—though not the one you’re probably expecting.
Barbara Krafft, Wikimedia Commons
4. She Wasn’t Enough
At the time, the 21-year-old Mozart paid absolutely no attention to the only 15-year-old Constanze. Instead, he fell hard for her older sister, and the most successful singer of the four, Aloysia. But Mozart couldn't find enough work to keep him in Mannheim, so he headed off to Paris shortly after. He didn’t forget about Aloysia. But in the end, he really should have.
Johann Baptist von Lampi the Elder, Wikimedia Commons
5. She Turned Him Down
Upon his return to Germany, Mozart returned to his pursuit of Constanze’s older sister. He even went so far as to propose to her. Aloysia, however, turned him down cold. There doesn’t seem to be much record of Constanze’s feelings at the time, though it’s quite possible she harbored some feelings for young Mozart herself. Either way, she soon had much bigger problems to deal with.
6. She Couldn’t Stay Still
Once Aloysia’s singing career started to take off, she began moving around a lot—and her entire family followed. This included a move from her cultural hometown to the busy German city of Munich, followed by a move to an entirely different country altogether when Aloysia got a job in Vienna, Austria. Things should’ve been looking up, but at that point, everything began to fall apart.
String Quintet, Wikimedia Commons
7. They Lost Him
Just a few weeks after arriving in Austria, Constanze’ father passed suddenly. This plunged the family into a precarious financial situation. With their main breadwinner gone, the family began renting out rooms to make ends meet. At just about that time, a certain jilted lover came around looking for a place to stay…
8. He Circled The Block
In 1781, Mozart decided to rent a room with the Webers for just a week as he looked for a more long term place to stay. But while there, he started keeping the company of a now 19-year-old Constanze. Now in his mid 20’s, Constanze began to appeal to him. And before long, he made his move.
Johann Nepomuk della Croce, Wikimedia Commons
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9. He Found His Match
Mozart and Constanze became close friends, and eventually began courting. According to many historians, they made a perfect match. Constanze’s musical knowledge and grounded personality went perfectly with Mozart’s musical passions and more whimsical demeanor. But even with their compatible personalities, their course to love didn’t at all run smoothly.
10. Their Courtship Was Scandalous
The young couple seemingly carried on their courtship for some time without much notice. But when Constanze's mother did notice, she didn’t like it. She didn’t have a problem with Mozart himself, but she worried about how it looked for them both to be living in her home unmarried. Mozart did oblige her and move out, but that didn’t mean the end of their troubles.
11. His Father Didn’t Approve
Mozart’s father didn’t approve of the relationship. Although it’s not explicitly stated, he seemingly didn’t believe the two were a good match. By then, Mozart’s career had begun to take off. So even though she had her own musical talent, Mozart’s father didn’t like their plan for marriage. Mozart himself didn’t seem too concerned though. That is, until his one ally in the relationship—Constanze herself— turned on him.
12. She Had Too Much Fun
Somehow, Mozart and Contsanze managed to keep their love alive despite the issues they faced with their families. However, during a get together, Constanze threatened the relationship with her own antics. She engaged in some parlor games with mixed company. In one of the games, she let another young man take some intimate measurements. When Mozart found out, he flipped.
13. She Infuriated Him
When Mozart found out that Constanze let another man measure her calves during a game, he became furious. So furious, in fact, that they reportedly broke up over it. It honestly sounds pretty silly, but considering how modestly women dressed at the time, it turned out to be quite scandalous. Either way, they worked through it, then made some extremely scandalous decisions of their own.
14. They Shocked Everyone
Shortly after getting back together, Constanze made a very bold move—she moved in with Mozart. This wouldn’t draw much attention in our modern days, but in 1782 two unmarried people living together caused quite the controversy. And when Constanze’s family found out, things got truly chaotic.
15. Her Mother Gave Him An Ultimatum
Constanze’s mother didn’t take the news well. Reportedly, she approached Mozart and insisted he marry her daughter as soon as possible. She did give him an ultimatum, trying to get him to pay her a yearly allowance to provide a living for her if she ended up an ostracized, unmarried woman. And while that already seems pretty dramatic, she somehow managed to escalate the situation even further.
16. She Called In Backup
Sophie, Constanze’s younger sister, threw herself into the fray. She told Mozart that if Constanze didn’t return home, their mother planned to call in the authorities to remove her. And with that, Mozart finally decided to tie the knot—but not without very forcefully wrapping up one other loose end.
17. He Made His Move
In his correspondence with his father, Mozart finally confirmed he planned to marry Constanze, with or without his father’s consent. He noted the threats of Constanze’s family in the letter, but he’d been no less dedicated to Constanze in his prior messages. The two married on August 4, 1782. And luckily for them, they got some stellar news the very next day.
18. He Gave In
The very day after the wedding, a letter arrived in the mail for Mozart. It turned out to be his father finally giving in, and offering his approval for Mozart to marry Constanze. No doubt this lifted their spirits, considering Mozart’s father’s keen involvement in his life. Even more than that, though, it proved a good omen to start off a love story for the ages…
19. They Kept The Flame Burning
During their marriage, Mozart often traveled as he continued to grow in fame. As such, he and Constanze wrote letters to keep in touch. Many of Mozart’s letters have been preserved, which gives us a peek into their affections for each other. By all accounts, they seemed to be very much in love. And not just in the sweet, soft, romantic way, either…
20. They Got Steamy
Some of the letters between the two proved quite passionate in nature, so to speak. In one letter, Mozart writes to Constanze that his “little rascal” missed her “nest”, and had “crept up on the table” as he wrote the letter. Honestly, the word choice is a bit bizarre, but it does point to a couple very much in love. They made great music together, in more ways than one.
21. She Inspired Him
Though she didn’t receive her due credit until much later, Constanze’s relationship with Mozart contributed to some of his greatest compositions. Most notably, she made an impression on him by herself falling in love with the fugues of composers like Bach and Handel. She fell so much in love with them, that she pressed her husband to make something especially for her.
Hugo Schubert (1874-1913), Wikimedia Commons
22. He Valued Her
When Constanze compelled her husband to compose his own fugues, he took on the challenge with much fortitude. As a result, he composed the Great Mass in C Minor, which remains one of his lauded classics. By all accounts, they appeared completely meant to be. But even in their young lovers’ bliss, they still dealt with their share of problems.
23. They Wanted More
Judging by the frequency of Constanze’ pregnancies, she took good care of Mozart’s “rascal”. Tragically, though, several of her children didn’t live past infancy. Over the course of eight years, Constanze birthed six children. Only two actually survived into their adulthood. And to make things even worse, the difficult pregnancies started to take their toll.
24. She Couldn’t Take It
Constanze experienced many health issues during the marriage, most likely due to her nearly constantly being pregnant. As a result, she often spent time at a nearby sulphur spa to help her body heal. Unfortunately, the spa cost a pretty penny, as did several other things that started to threaten the new couple’s financial stability.
25. His Stock Went Up
As their marriage continued, Mozart's celebrity status began to rise—fast. He composed several renowned works, and attracted notable crowds to his solo performances. This probably felt very exciting for the new couple. But they soon realized that fame came at a high price, one they might not be able to pay.
26. They Did Too Much
Running with high society meant they needed to look more like they belonged. The two began living high on the hog. They bought an expensive new apartment, furnished it with pricey items, and even sent their son off to a ritzy boarding school. If they had any idea what the future held, they might have been a lot more conservative with their choices…
27. Things Took A Turn
In the early 1790s, Constanze's life took a turn for the very worst. Mozart fell extremely ill. Doctors couldn’t determine the actual cause of his ailment, much less figure out how to cure him. Constanze stayed by his side till the very end, and he finally passed in November 1791, at only 35 years old. Shattered, Constanze went on to make a devastating decision.
28. She Couldn’t Do It
Totally overwhelmed with grief, Constanze chose not to attend her husband’s funeral. Actually, many people didn’t—which is an unfortunate contrast considering the scores of people who came out to hear him play. But Constanze didn’t have time to lick any wounds caused by disloyal fans. Mozart left her in shaky conditions.
29. He Left Her With Nothing
Mozart left Constanze to deal with all the debt they accumulated trying to “keep up with the Joneses” during his glory years. Constanze herself didn’t have a regular job, and no clear path to taking care of herself without a man. Luckily for her, Mozart’s life soon made a living for her in ways she likely didn’t expect.
30. She Went High
Constanze recognized the very important contribution Mozart made to the world of classical music. As such, she started her mission to take care of herself and her family by going to the Roman emperor. She entreated him to give her a pension, seemingly in honor of Mozart’s contributions. And while she did succeed, she still needed more ways to make ends meet.
Unknown Artist, Wikimedia Commons
31. She Used His Memory
To add to this pension, Constanze began to organize memorial, benefit concerts for Mozart. The performances featured his classic works, while the ticket money helped her take care of herself. Perhaps, at that point, Constanze realized just how lucrative the works of Mozart could be, considering her next move.
32. She Secured His Legacy
Constanze turned her attention to officially publishing her husband’s work, therefore monetizing the rights to his music and preserving his compositions and memory. Through these efforts, she actually managed to not only sustain herself, but create notable wealth. And to top it all off, she got an opportunity she probably dreamed of since hearing his first composition.
33. She Got Her Day In The Sun
In 1794, Constanze launched a benefit performance of Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito. Her sister Aloysia took one of the leading roles during a performance in Vienna, but Constanze herself took the role in other performances of the show. And with that, Constanze seemingly had it all. But one thing was missing, and it eventually came along in an intriguingly familiar way.
34. She Went Back To Basics
By the late 1790s, Constanze became a landlord, much like her family did after her father passed. It provided another opportunity to supplement her income, considering her children went off to school. In 1797, a Danish man named Georg Nikolaus von Nissen began living in one of her rooms. And much like with Mozart, the two began to bond. This time, though, they bonded over the most unlikely subject.
Ferdinand Jagemann, Wikimedia Commons
35. They Loved Him
An ambassador from his country, Nissen worked as a writer. He especially majored in music history, which made him just the right man to help Constanze with her next endeavor—putting together a comprehensive biography of Mozart’s life. He helped with collecting all the details of Mozart’s life, but he also stepped up in other, more personal ways.
36. He Filled In
Nissen quickly began to fill in as the man in Constanze’s life. He helped with negotiations over Mozart’s published works, taking over where it might be easy for publishers to take advantage of Constanze as a woman. If you ask me, a man who takes charge is definitely a turn on. Constanze likely agreed, considering she let him get even closer.
37. He Played House
Eventually, Nissen also became a part of the family as a whole. He served as a father figure to Constanze’s children, stepping in to help care for them and guide them whenever he could. With all the support Nissen offered Constanze, and of his own volition at that, their next move is no surprise. It probably still scandalized the neighbors, though.
38. He Moved In
Just a year after the two met, Nissen moved in with Constanze (and not as a tenant). Even despite their ages, both in their 30s at the time, it still didn’t look right for an unmarried man to be living with an unwed widow. Unfortunately for the two, making Constanze an honest woman at that point proved more complicated than expected.
39. They Couldn’t Cross The Line
At that time, Austria maintained some very strict rules around marriage. One of those rules prevented Protestants from marrying Catholics. That meant Constance, a lifelong Catholic, couldn’t officially marry Nissen, a devout Protestant. But where there’s a will, there’s a way, and the two found a quick—but scandalous—loophole.
40. They Ran Off Together
In 1809, the love-struck couple left their home and fled to Hungary and officially married there. The very next year, they moved back to Nissen’s hometown, Copenhagen, Denmark. And with her life back in spectacular order, Constanze and Nissen lived their life together, travelling around Europe. Even with this new love, though, Constanze didn’t forget her first.
![Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart AUSTRIA - JANUARY 01: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Austrian composer. Woodcuts according to a painting. Printed by A. Hoelzer, Berlin. Publishing House: Moeser & Scherl, Berlin. Around 1785. (Photo by Imagno/Getty Images) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, oesterreichischer Komponist. Hauskonzert bei Wolfgang Amadeus und Constanze Mozart in Wien. Holzschnitt nach einem Gemaelde. Druck von A. Hoelzer in Berlin. Verlag von Moeser & Scherl in Berlin. Um 1785.]](https://www.factinate.com/storage/app/media/factinate/2025/4/8/gettyimages-56455605-1.jpg)
brandstaetter images, Getty Images
41. They Kept Going
Nissen and Constanze continued to work on Mozart’s biography together. They spent a copious amount of time collecting both his letters and numerous other documents, organizing them in order to pen his biography. However, just before they could finish the job, tragedy struck once more.
42. She Lost Him
In March 1826, Nissen passed. Granted, he’d comfortably grown to the ripe old age of 62. But he probably wanted to see the culmination of his decades of work on Mozart’s biography. Constanze undoubtedly took her time to grieve her second husband, but when it came to Mozart’s biography, she made sure the show went on.
DEA / A. DAGLI ORTI, Getty Images
43. She Finished His Story
With the assistance of another biographer, Constanze officially completed the biography, publishing it in 1828. And with that, Constanze preserved the story of her husband’s life for many generations to come. With what seems to be her greatest life’s work finally complete, she settled in for her final years, reaching out for some of those who’d been along for the entire journey.
44. She Went Peacefully
After Nissen passed, Constanze moved back to Germany. She lived with her sisters, Aloysia and Sophie, until she passed peacefully in 1842. Hers sounds like a life truly well lived, despite the challenges she faced. Interestingly enough, though, Constanze's story didn’t go into the grave with her. And, in fact, it changed form many times before settling on the truth.
Clayton Tang, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
45. They Threw Dirt On Her Name
Throughout the 20th century, historians tried to alter the narrative of Constanze’s life. They perpetrated theories that she had no musical skill to speak of. Even more than that, they cast suspicion on her support of Mozart, implying that she wanted him for his money. More recent studies, though, show starkly different truths.
DEA / A. DAGLI ORTI, Getty Images
46. They Redeemed Her
More recent scholars dispute those claims. They ascribe those thoughts to anti-feminist scholarship. In other words, the men at that time didn’t want to give Constanze any credit for her contributions to Mozart’s life and work. But at the end of the day, they didn’t really have a choice but to recognize her irreplaceable role in the life of the genius, both before and after he passed…
Zoe Dominic, Wikimedia Commons
47. She Made It Happen
There’s no telling what could've become of Mozart’s legacy if Constanze didn’t commit most of her life to preserving it. While it’s quite possible that other scholars might’ve eventually tried to share his story, they’d likely miss out on the first hand access to documents that Constanze preserved in order to give a factual biography of his life. That being said, though, she still managed to stir a little more controversy decades after her passing.
Ann Priestley, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
48. A Hidden Photograph Emerged
In 1958, a photograph claiming to depict a 78-year-old Constanze floated into the limelight. The photo supposedly showed her seated beside another famous composer, Max Keller. While a photo like that would definitely be nice to have in the archives, evidence soon came out that blasted its legitimacy to pieces.
Karl Clemens della Croce, Wikimedia Commons
49. They Pushed It
After examining the photo, critics quickly invalidated the claim. Not only did the camera lens used for the picture not exist when Constanze lived, but she also suffered from arthritis in her later years. She likely didn’t retain enough mobility to take such a photo. All scandal and debate aside, Constanze's story ultimately came to the light in all its truth. And with it came the honor she deserved.
Joseph Lange, Wikimedia Commons
50. She Got Her Flowers
A few mementos from Constanze can be found in the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. The collection includes autographs, along with an album of souvenirs from her life. While her story went under fire after her death, she managed to emerge a victor. She married a genius, but she proved her own genius in ultimately curating her life on her own terms.
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