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Austrian history is full of eminent people who have left their mark all across the centuries in politics, art, science and sport. Here's a list of some of the most famous people from Austria, who till this day have influenced or impressed us in many ways.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is the most famous Austrian of all times. He was one of the most amazing child prodigies in history. By the age of four he could tell his father when his violin was one quarter of a note off. At six he could play the harpsichord and violin, improvise fugues, write minuets and read music perfectly at first sight. At age tender age of eight he wrote a symphony; at eleven, an oratorio, at twelve, an opera.
Mozart was among the most versatile of all composers and wrote masterpieces in all the musical forms of his time, from symphonies to concertos and chamber music to operas, he excelled in all. All his music conveys a felling of ease, grace, and spontaneity as well as balance, restraint, and proportion. 'I am never happier,' Mozart once wrote, 'than when I have something to compose, for that, after all, is my sole delight and passion.' And true to the core, his delight and passion is communicated in his works, which represent late eighteenth-century musical style at its highest level of perfection, and nestled it self on top in the world of classical music.
Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809)
Joseph Hayden was born in Rohrau, a tiny Austrian village. Till the age of six, his musical background consisted of folk songs and peasant dances (which later influenced his own style of music); but then his eager response to music was recognized and he was given training. At eight, he went to Vienna to serve as a choirboy in the Cathedral of St. Stephen.
Haydn was a trailblazer for the classical style, a pioneer in the development of the symphony and the string quartet. Both Mozart and Beethoven were influenced by his style. His music, like his personality, is robust and direct and radiates a healthy optimism.
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)
Beethoven is undoubtedly, one of the greatest classical musicians of all times. The second-oldest child of the court musician and tenor singer Johann van Beethoven, Ludwig was born in Bonn. Employed as a musician in Bonn court orchestra since 1787, Beethoven was granted a paid leave of absence in the early part of 1787 to study in Vienna under Mozart.
Around the year 1798 Beethoven noticed that he was suffering from a hearing disorder. He withdrew into increasing seclusion for the public and from his few friends and was eventually left completely deaf. By 1820 he was able to communicate with visitors and trusted friends only in writing, availing him of "conversation notebooks". It is hard to imagine being able to compose music as wonderful as the Choral symphony whilst being unable to hear the music except in one’s head, Beethoven was the epitome of passion and musical genius.
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)
Sigmund Freud was born in Moravia. At the age of 5 years his family moved to Vienna. Freud was an excellent student and always ahead of his class. Therefore, he had no problem to enroll to medical school. He got involved with psychology, when he got to know Professor Ernst Brücke under whose direction he started doing research. Freud's work was revolutionary at his times he is the pioneer of the basis to most modern psychological treatments. His most famous works are; theory of psychoanalysis, publications on hysteria, the working of jokes, Oedipus complex or the interpretation of dreams.
Arnold Schwarzenegger (1947- )
Arnold Schwarzenegger was born as the son of a policeman in Graz. Because he wanted to get into the local soccer team, he started to workout. In 1965, when he joined the Austrian Army, his commanding officer withheld the pass to leave the base to take part in some stupid bodybuilding contest. It was only then, that the senior officers took a closer look at the trophy, which happened to be the top position of Mr. Universe junior! After that, he was officially allowed to train during his year of service. From then on he earned one title after the other.
In 1968 he won the International Power Lifting Championship and decided to move to the USA. His body was his success. In 1982 he got the lead role in 'Conan the Barbarian' and 'Terminator', starting his career as a convincing actor in action movies. Schwarzenegger also obtained a business degree from the University of Wisconsin and started investing his earnings. In 1991, he acted in "Terminator 2: Judgement Day", his most successful movie ever. Arnold Schwarzeneggers is one of the most famous Austrians living in the States, and just couple of years back been elected as the governor of the state of California.
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