Nannerl

Nannerl is the nickname of Maria Anna Walburga Ignatia Mozart (July 30, 1751 – October 16, 1829), an Austrian pianist and the elder sister of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Born in Salzburg, she and Wolfgang were trained by their father, Leopold Mozart, and both were recognized as child prodigies. Nannerl excelled on the keyboard and participated in performances with her brother as they toured for European courts and aristocracy.

During the 1760s the Mozart family undertook extensive journeys across Central Europe, and Nannerl and Wolfgang were showcased as gifted young musicians before royalty in cities such as Paris, Vienna, and Munich. Their joint performances helped establish their reputations and provided a rare example of a sister–brother musical partnership in the 18th century.

Nannerl’s public performing career diminished after she married Joseph Lange in 1772, a German actor and amateur painter who would later be involved in musical and court circles. The couple had several children, and Nannerl largely took on domestic and family duties in Salzburg. Despite reducing her public presence, she remained part of the Mozart family’s enduring legacy and preserved aspects of their musical heritage.

In scholarship, Nannerl is recognized as an important figure illustrating the role of women in early classical music and as a source for understanding the personal and familial context of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Her life provides insight into 18th‑century female musicians and the social constraints they navigated.