Franz Xaver Sussmayr

Full biography Franz Xaver Sussmayr

Franz Xaver Sussmayr was an Austrian composer who lived from 1766 to 1803. He is most famous for his work completing Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's unfinished masterpiece, the Requiem Mass in D minor, after the latter's untimely death in 1791.

Sussmayr was born in Schwanenstadt, Austria, into a family of musicians. He was a student of Michael Haydn and was a close friend of Mozart, who was said to have been impressed by Sussmayr's musicianship and work ethic. Sussmayr assisted Mozart with the composition of some of his works, including the opera "The Magic Flute."

After Mozart's death, Sussmayr was entrusted with the difficult task of completing the Requiem Mass, which Mozart had started but never finished. Sussmayr was chosen for this task because he had worked closely with Mozart, knew the composer's style, and had a reputation for being a good composer and arranger.

Many musicologists and historians have criticized Sussmayr's completion of the Requiem, claiming that it is not up to Mozart's standards. Others argue that Sussmayr did an admirable job, given the difficult circumstances of trying to finish an unfinished masterpiece, and that his contribution should be appreciated for what it is.

Aside from the Requiem, Sussmayr composed several other works, including symphonies, chamber music, and vocal music. Despite his reputation as a competent composer, he remains best known for his completion of Mozart's Requiem, which still continues to fascinate and inspire audiences to this day.