Universally considered one of the greatest and most popular composers of all times, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart displayed his enormous talents very early as a keyboard and violin virtuoso. Mozart wrote his first composition at age 3. Mozart's teacher was his father, Leopold, a noted musician and composer who also taught Wolfgang’s elder sister Maria Anna, also a child prodigy. The family’s patron, the Archbishop of Salzburg,   contributed to Mozart’s relative independence in Vienna. Mozart's success with German and Italian operas as well as in frequent concert performances did not solve his persistent financial difficulties.  In December, 1791, Mozart became gravely ill and died a month later. Mozart was buried in a common, unmarked grave.