Church bells will ring today to mark Mozart's birth 250 years ago as his hometown of Salzburg throws street parties and stages concerts to lead the world in celebration of a musical genius.
Thousands of visitors have booked into hotels for the beginning of a "Mozart Year" celebrating the life and music of the Austrian "Wunderkind", born at 8pm on January 27th, 1756.
Mozart stunned the courts of Europe with his brilliance as a child pianist and violinist and began composing at age five, but he fled to Vienna 20 years later when he felt the provincialism of Salzburg was cramping his style.
Salzburg has spent millions of euros on museum renovations and exhibits, an ambitious musical programme and entertainment to keep everyone happy, from visitors from all over the world to locals who could not get tickets to concerts.
The selling of everything from Mozart liqueurs to thimbles featuring his portrait is overwhelming, but Salzburgers take it in their stride.
Elsewhere, the Paris Opera will stage a new production of "Don Giovanni", directed by avant-garde filmmaker Michael Haneke, while the New York Philharmonic begins three weeks of events devoted to the maestro.