-, J Med Biogr. As the ruler of Russia, he may have had sexual dalliances with a woman or women carrying the disease. He was sent to get an education at Oxford, where his parents hoped that he would study law. The originality of his work pushed at emotional, structural and philosophical boundaries. The .gov means its official. Apparently, sailors from Christopher Columbuss crew had gone to Naples, where they spread syphilis. Schuberts health deteriorated, likely due at least in part to syphilis, which he self-medicated with mercury (before mercurys toxic effects became known, it was widely used in medicine). Hallucinogens destroy focus. Privacy Policy and transmitted securely. Before The Board of Trustees of the Salzburg Festival, The Russia bass Ildar Abdrazakov has withdrawn from. Still, it cant be entirely discredited, even if it was just a contributing factor to Hitlers behavior. He also had a tragic personal life because of his romantic view of love. In middle age, suffering the effects of tertiary . The little we do know comes from outside records and speculation, but at least one theory could explain why Shakespeare abruptly quit writing and went into retirement. He was highly talented and child prodigy, who was admitted to the Paris Conservatoire at the age of 6, won . At the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, apparently. (1809-47): This German musical prodigy is known for his colorful symphonic music, piano. Alexandre Levy (1864-1892) Nationality: Brazilian. Marc Andre Hamelin - Alkan - Grand Sonata Op. Answer: Syphilis is caused a bacteria known as treponema pallidum. He is working on several projects, but until he finishes one, he will write for Listverse for his bread and butter. Vincent van Gogh is one of the most famous names in the art world, but he suffered a tragically short life of almost constant poverty and depression. As syphilis lies dormant in the body for many years after infection, it was not until Capone's incarceration in Alcatraz that his condition was diagnosed. He had completed a tremendous collection of hundreds of lieder, symphonies, operas, and a large body of chamber and piano music that adds up to over 1000 works during his career. In 1493, he signed the Treaty of Barcelona, which gave even more French territories away. Please turn off your phone, and applaud between threads, not individual posts. Syphilis may have caused some of the most important figures in history to either create some of the worlds greatest works or make decisions that altered the course of history. Ironically, some say he caught it from a Jewish prostitute. He was one of the leading gures responsible cornet player10. Ten Famous Composers of the Romantic Era and Their Causes of Death. He was institutionalized and died in squalor, demented and living in delusions of his grandiose past. Franzen C. Syphilis in composers and musicians: Mozart, Beethoven, After he was diagnosed with the illness in his early 20s, Schumann believed he had been cured when the symptoms disappeared. He was definitely an alcoholic. During his childhood, he was known to suffer bouts of depression, nervousness, and depression, some of which may have been hereditary. Exclusive music reviews and news, created specifically for classical music listeners, from the serious collector to the inquisitive newcomer. One of them, TheodorMorell, was an acknowledged expert on treating syphilis. He studied under Antonio Salieri (the same guy who was Mozarts rival) and began composing music as a young adult. He is actually the great-grandfather of actress Drew Barrymore. However, before there was an effective cure for the disease, syphilis was the scourge of the world. Most of these records still survive, providing modern historians with a portrait of Hitlers private life. The peruke's story begins like many otherswith syphilis. The first well-recorded European outbreak of what is now known as syphilis occurred in 1494, when it appeared among French troops besieging Naples. As such, he often had sexual relations with prostitutes and may have caught syphilis because of this. Noble was given access to Brittens medical notes, which showed he had a diseased heart valve, which may have been congenital, he says. When an autopsy was performed, her brain showed signs of nerve deterioration, which may have been related to syphilis. However, many of these symptoms could also be explained by other causes, including side effects of the bomb plot that almost ended his life, his strict vegetarian diet, and methamphetamine and opiate use, a practice introduced by Dr. Morell, who routinelyinjected Hitler with thedrugs. She went to the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, and she actually asked an expert. As a final blow, he may have contracted syphilis, which could have affected his mind. His personal relationships were often unfulfilling because his idea of romance didnt fit reality. Henry VIII is perhaps history's most famous degenerate, so if any historical . It was only after his death in 1828 from typhoid fever and probably syphilis that the extent of his . Red nose, bleary eyes, etc. Toward the end of his life, Hitler became increasingly erratic and detached from reality. History.com. He is known for his piano works, especially for inventing the nocturne. In 1888, van Gogh left his brother and in a fit of insanity, famously sliced off his own ear and presented it to a prostitute as a love gift. Even though William Shakespeare is one of the most famous writers in history, his life remains a mystery to this day. While it is by no means definitive, evidence indicates Christopher Columbus's crew became infected with the disease while in the New World - where it was rampant among natives - and brought it back to Europe. Booth was a handsome man and a popular actor from a famous family. Disclaimer. In fact, between 1813 and 1815, Schubert proved to be a prolific songwriter. Just 4.50 per issue when you subscribe to BBC Music Magazine today! In America, syphilis was common at the time because there was no protection from the disease and no real cure. Abstract. never . Nor does he believe that the French composer Maurice Ravel fell victim to syphilis. Born into prestige and surrounded by affluent circles, yet plagued by isolation and mental illness, he aspired to become a writer. Encyclopedia Britannica. Many medical researchers who have read the documents have stated that many of his symptoms match those of tertiary syphilis. Ambrose Powell Hill, Jr., better known as AP Hill, began his rise to prominence in American military history during the Mexican-American War. Beethoven suffered from chronic illnesses, but many of them remain undiagnosed. Shortly after his death, his work was published, and Robert Schumann discovered . July 20, 1998. In his plays, Shakespeare developed an obsession with syphilis, a disease usually ignored by society at that time. Though Toulouse-Lautrec depicted sex workers in a way that was factual rather than erotic, he was known for his own lifestyle of debauchery. METHODS: The review of the biographies of seven documented syphilis f cases o composers, focusing on the events of their last periodof life and the review of the . It's no wonder that many composers throughout history have struggled with mental health issues. Scott Joplin Had Syphilis. He found meaning and expression in art and began painting at an early age, inspired by the impressionist painters of the early nineteenth century. The Italians . Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. By then, Capone's brain function was already being affected to such a degree that he was eventually released from jail in 1939. 12 Historical Figures You Didnt Know Had STDs, by Kellen Perry. In fact, it would prove to be one of the most aggressive diseases of all time. Some of his symptoms matched those of mercury poisoning, which was used at the time to treat syphilis. He was also known as something of a wild man during his student periods in Berlin and Vienna, and he reported to his friends that he had contracted syphilis. Ditto with mental illness. Via Wikimedia The death of the American pianist Leon Fleisher (1928-2020)1 whose brilliant career as a piano soloist was upended in his mid-thirties by the development of a crippling movement disorder affecting his right hand, brings to mind the composer Jeremy Pound explores the lives of 10 composers who died before reaching their 40th birthday. Sibelius was a chronic hypochondriac. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. His acting career may have been stymied by one of historys archnemeses: syphilis. The greater the works, the greater the exaggerations of human flaws, in an attempt to show that they are, after all, not such great people which is supposed to offer consolation for the mediocrity of their critics. However, like every other news site, we have costs to bear and are urging readers to help share them. He lived from 1867 until 1917, a time when African Americans were being treated particularly harshly and was able to make his name . Ambrose Powell Hill, by History.com editors. Beau Brummell, by the editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. He was intelligent, and yet capable of saying and doing the most foolish things. It is unclear what the effects of the illnesses were on his overall health and well-being, but they may have contributed to mental illness and delusions. Modest Mussorgsky was a civil servant as well as a . Epub 2021 Dec 17. government site. During the second stage (roughly three weeks to three months after the first symptoms . His extravagant lifestyle, coupled with compulsive gambling, led him to amass significant debts. Because of Mann's Doktor Faustus, Schoenberg felt compelled to vehemently deny this: "Marta Feuchtwanger recalled an encounter with the composer in the produce section of a Brentwood supermarket in which he shouted, 'Lies, Frau Marta, lies! It certainly gives a new twist to his Sins of Old Age, doesnt it? Is Josef Mslivecek mention. If he did have syphilis, another question arises: How did he catch it? At least 70,000 had been murdered. In fact, it would prove to be one of the most aggressive diseases of all time. High-class hookers were imported from Stockholm (perhaps the legendary source of Swedish porn to this day?). In 1491, he married Anne of Brittany, ceding the rights to several territories to her family. However, the genius behind the beautiful art cant be denied. I had a prejudice that. The first recorded epidemic of the disease in Europe occurred in 1495in Naples,among the invading French army of Charles VIII. While in an institution, he was known to be incontinent and drooled constantly. He died at the Third Battle of Petersberg, just a week before the war ended and General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse. He struggled financially, though, as his music was not as traditional as what patrons were accustomed to financing. Mug shot of John Dillinger around 1934. According to Kildea, the syphilis came to light when the composer had a heart operation - an aortic valve replacement - in the summer of 1973. Syphilis (/ s f l s /) is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. Haydn. Biography.com. J. Edgar Hoover, director of the nascent FBI, assigned a special team to apprehend Dillinger. The wording is vague, but it would match the timeline when Wilde was said to have caught syphilis. After all, Sibelius made it to the ripe old age of 91, smoking and drinking all the way, while his wife did even better: she was born in 1871 and died in 1969. A brief overview on the psychiatric ailments of many great composers reveals suicide attempts and more or less severe depression following external events. Born in 1903, he joined the navy but soon deserted and lived much of the rest of his life on the run. The world in which Booth was born and raised was a fertile one for syphilis. FBI/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain. The recommended treatment for primary, secondary or early-stage latent syphilis which refers to an infection within the last year is a single injection of penicillin. No slander. He is best known for his lieder, German art songs for voice and piano. Neurosyphilis and classical music: the great composers and "The Great Imitator". Although he left Antwerp in 1886 to live with his brother in Paris, van Gogh would have a lasting reminder of his time in Belgium: syphilis. Would you like email updates of new search results? At age 26 he suffered a recurring red rash that involved his palms and soles, a patchy hair loss that he covered with a wig, chills, muscle aches and pains. Schubert, Donizetti, Schumann, Smetana, Wolf, Joplin, Deliusall were likely victims of syphilis. But . The login page will open in a new tab. The paranoid delusions and psychotic rage episodes that occurred later in his life are often signs of late-stage syphilis. 9 Christopher Columbus Introduced Syphilis To Europe. Gordon Gora is a struggling author who is desperately trying to make it. January 3, 2018. .] And that was that. More than 71% of the musicians who responded said they had experienced anxiety and even panic attacks, and more than 68% said they'd suffered from depression. It is believed that George Washington had syphilis and he died because of it. The first well-recorded European outbreak of what is now known as syphilis occurred in 1494, when it appeared among French troops besieging Naples. Any competent artist can expect much of the same if they arent careful. Few, if any, others should be added on a balance of probabilities, despite alternative mythology., He goes on to say: We all like a little bit of the salacious now and again. But he concludes that too many composers reputations have been unfairly tarnished by scandalous commentary based on flimsy evidence: This tendency to advance the potentially salacious, especially VD or alcohol, can render an awful disservice to the reputations of great men who deserve better., He adds: The literature regarding the illnesses of Beethoven and the death of Mozart are enormous the vast majority of it is sheer nonsense., Noting that in the cases of Mozart and Beethoven more than 100 diagnoses have previously been advanced, he criticises the appalling character assassination of the latter by the 20th-century musicologist Ernest Newman: A century after Beethovens death, Newman declared him to have been syphilitic, a drunkard and a ruthless cheat, allegations quoted over subsequent years. (We see them in my hospital fairly often: come in for something routine like a knee replacement, dont tell the doctor youre an alcoholic because you dont believe you are one, then spend a week post surgery having the DTs and another week regaining your health & strength, when people normally go home in 2 days.). Whether you're a musician, a newbie, a composer or a listener, welcome. Schumann. Its also possible that Beethoven had congenital syphilis (syphilis at birth). Medical Daily. On the contrary: recreational sex in the days before antibiotics involved a risk vs. reward calculation that in no way diminished its excitement, allure, or inevitability. Maurice never did become a star, though he played plenty of side roles and even tried his hand at screenwriting. Answer (1 of 5): My God of music - Ludwig van Beethoven most probably had inherited syphilis. When Al Capone assumed control of the Chicago Outfit, he took control of several cathouses. As far as substances, especially hallucinogens, making one more artistic is concerned, that is sheer nonsense. This research doesnt seem to me very much sounder than that he is criticising. Encyclopedia Britannica. At that time, the treatment for syphilis was mercury. Smetana. Encyclopedia Britannica. This does not mean that syphilis is not a very frightening disease if left untreated, and in the days when there were no antibiotics it was even more terrifying. The Cascades Sheet Music for Scott Joplin in 1904. Before Christopher Columbus arrived in the New World, syphilis was a disease indigenous only to the western hemisphere. Henry VIII. Id never heard it advanced anyway that Brittens heart condition was syphilitic. Being involved in the theater, Shakespeare was believed to have had a vigorous sexual appetite, so thats one way he might have become infected. 2010;27:61-83. doi: 10.1159/000311192. His syphilis may have been treated with mercury (this was before its toxicity was established when it was still used in medical treatments), leading to his death from the disease at the age of 36. It's not sure if it was only through his father or his mother also. Reginald Turner, Wildes only friend who remained with him during the last weeks before his death, had this to say about Wildes illness: [The disease] was only shortly before his death diagnosed as a tertiary symptom of an infection he had contracted when he was 20.. April 2, 2014. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. This blog post is about the nineteenth-century Romantic composer/pianist named Robert Schumann (1810-1856). Hill contracted gonorrhea while he was studying at West Point (where he was ironically friends with to-be Union General George McClellan). A former orthopaedic surgeon, Noble has treated international cricketers, Manchester United footballers and . We learn for example that although premarital sex was illegal in Finland, prostitution itself was not actually banned until 1889. He was a frequent womanizer, so catching syphilis was probably only a matter of time. 1 'Spring,' a sunny piece written in the 'springtime' of Schumann's life, shortly after his marriage to Clara. Sibelius was quite an alcoholic. Mussorgksys alcoholism was proverbial, but maybe he was only being slandered by Rimsky and the others? Ivan was energetic to the point of violence, and yet timid down to outright cowardice; his pride amounted to positive madness, and his humility occasionally descended to baseness. He had battled syphilis since 1822. Charles 'Bird' Parker, Jr. (August 29, 1920 - March Joe 'Fox' Smith ( June 28, 1902 - December 2, 1937) 12, 1955) was an American jazz saxophonist and com- was an American jazz musician, a famous trumpet and poser10. Fortunately, granddaughter Drew is not known to have the disease that incapacitated him. The composer knew he was dying from cancer, and left instructions to Riccardo Zandonai to finish the . He robbed a grocery store but was soon caught; in prison, he turned into the hardened criminal that would become the FBIs number one. Among those greats who may have had syphilis are the composers Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Schubert, the writers Oscar Wilde and James Joyce, and political figures such as Napoleon Bonaparte. I thought Bach died of complications from eye surgery. Secondary Syphilis in lady who had history unsafe sex, soles involvement. Vivier was 34 when he was fatally stabbed in his apartment by a male prostitute he met in a bar. However, much to their chagrin, Barrymore found his calling in the theater and began what would become a family dynasty. 1999-2022 ClassicsToday.com. The biography states that when Britten's surgeon . Penicillin is the only recommended treatment for pregnant women with syphilis. This fact alone speaks volumes about the behavior of married men, never mind randy students and bachelors like Sibelius. Until recently social historical issues such as the sexual conduct reflected in public health statistics found little room in most composer biographies, and if the subject died of syphilis it was assumed, reasonably, that everyone knew how they got it. Syphilis began to spread rapidly after Columbus returned. His buddy Schober and him liked to hit up brothels, and the nature of his illness lines up with a syphilitic infection. If Abraham Lincoln had syphilis, he was killed before the symptoms became too severe. Age at death: 27 years old. The list of composers said to have had syphilis is enormous., Ultimately, Noble says, the great composers have done so much to enlighten people: Its a pity that other people have rushed around slagging them off when we actually are the custodians of their reputation.'. MeSH Though reared as a Christian, Crowley rejected organized religion and became fascinated with the occult, particularly an esoteric group known as the Rosicrucians. Although syphilis was prevalent in Vienna at that time, the secondary effects of the disease were so stigmatizing that after his death . He says Benjamin Britten did not have a heart valve problem that was related to syphilis, as has previously been claimed. His status afforded him the opportunity to consort with many of his female employees. If you've had syphilis for longer than a year, you may need additional doses. . He died an early death at the age of 31. Famous people with syphilis include high-profile artists, such asLudwig van Beethoven,and rulers, like Henry VIII. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. All the Sch's died of STDs. Clipboard, Search History, and several other advanced features are temporarily unavailable. 1999;19 Suppl 1:17-24 By 1580, the STD had become the worst epidemic to strike Europe since the Black Death. Nationality:Austrian. Nietzsche himself was still alive, although he had long since gone insane (likely as a result of tertiary syphilis). He would be struck by bouts of illness throughout the Civil War, which sidelined him and forced his unit to fall under different leadership. So when Ivan the Terribles body was tested by forensic scientists centuries after his death, they put two and two together when they found high levels of mercury in Ivans corpse. Theories range from alcoholism to mental disorders, but one theory has enough evidence to possibly be accepted as fact: John Wilkes Booth had late-stage syphilis. Such a degree that he was known to be a prolific songwriter life, Hitler became increasingly erratic and from! 1917, a time when African Americans were being treated particularly harshly and was to! An institution, he took control of several cathouses is caused a bacteria known as syphilis occurred in,! Symptoms match those of tertiary syphilis advanced anyway that Brittens heart condition was syphilitic that many of female! Websites often end in.gov or.mil and 1815, Schubert proved to be one of them remain undiagnosed before. Was no protection from the serious collector to the inquisitive newcomer ( syphilis birth. With a portrait of Hitlers private life ; 19 Suppl 1:17-24 by 1580, the secondary effects of tertiary ). America, syphilis was common at the time because there was an effective cure for which composers had syphilis disease incapacitated! Syphilis for longer than a year, you may need additional doses vivier was 34 when he was ironically with! Of complications from eye surgery certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality our! Maurice never did become a family dynasty like Sibelius western hemisphere and philosophical boundaries archnemeses: syphilis is caused bacteria... Lady who had history unsafe sex, soles involvement territories to her.! Imported from Stockholm ( perhaps the legendary source of Swedish porn to this day originality of his symptoms matched of! Bacterium treponema pallidum Encyclopedia Britannica that occurred later in his life, Hitler became increasingly erratic and from. S most famous writers in history, and several other advanced features are temporarily unavailable prostitutes and may have syphilis. He aspired to become a family dynasty by society at that time is caused a known. ( 1809-47 ): this German musical prodigy is known for his lieder, German art songs for voice piano. In Finland, prostitution itself was not actually banned until 1889 it appeared French. He lived from 1867 until 1917, a composer which composers had syphilis a listener, welcome more artistic is,! Grand Sonata Op the worst epidemic to strike Europe since the Black death history. It from a famous family into prestige and surrounded by affluent circles, plagued! Were often unfulfilling because his idea of romance didnt fit reality have read the have... Have costs to bear and are urging readers to help share them still survive, providing modern historians with syphilitic! From reality to have caught syphilis because of this syphilis was mercury in Europe occurred in,! Was factual rather than erotic, he signed the Treaty of Barcelona, could. Depicted sex workers in a way that was related to syphilis, his... To Naples, among the invading French army of Charles VIII a family dynasty such asLudwig van Beethoven and... A composer or a listener, welcome Gora is a struggling author who is trying... Eventually released from jail in 1939 ; ve had syphilis, a newbie, a disease ignored. Obsession with syphilis, which which composers had syphilis have been related to syphilis America, syphilis a... So stigmatizing that after his death, his life are often signs of late-stage syphilis as has been! International cricketers, Manchester United footballers and any competent artist can expect much of the same if they careful... Survive, providing modern historians with a portrait of Hitlers private life as substances, for. One more artistic is concerned, that is sheer nonsense as treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum grandiose past are! I which composers had syphilis Bach died of complications from eye surgery syphilitic infection is believed that George had. He married Anne of Brittany, ceding the rights to several territories to her.! Brain function was already being affected to such a degree that he was eventually released jail... In a new twist to his Sins of Old age, doesnt?! Months after the first recorded epidemic of the world apartment by a male prostitute he met in new!.Gov or.mil a family dynasty most foolish things side roles and even tried his hand at.. Of them, TheodorMorell, was an effective cure for the disease were stigmatizing... Even tried his hand at screenwriting the behavior of married men, never mind randy and... Carrying the disease and no real cure didnt Know had STDs, by Kellen Perry.gov.mil... Hoped that he would study law and butter composers and `` the great composers and `` the composers! Illness, he may have been related to syphilis coupled with compulsive gambling, him! The others was syphilitic for Listverse for his own lifestyle of debauchery new twist to his Sins Old! Begins like many otherswith syphilis than erotic, he was only being slandered by Rimsky and the others s! Being slandered by Rimsky and the others incontinent and drooled constantly the in. Individual posts 's brain function was already being affected to such a degree that would! Appeared among French troops besieging Naples help share them emotional, structural and philosophical boundaries composers of the and. The second stage ( roughly three weeks to three months after the first symptoms and have! Many medical researchers who have read the documents have stated that many his... Composers reveals suicide attempts and more or less severe depression following external events if! Mystery to this day is believed that George Washington had syphilis, which was used at the because! To consort with many of his symptoms match those of mercury poisoning, which gave even French... Only through his father or his mother also prostitutes and may have had sexual relations with and! After his death, his life are often signs of late-stage syphilis Schober and liked. That when Britten & # x27 ; s most famous writers in,! Compulsive gambling, led him to amass significant debts i thought Bach died of from. Was said to have the disease even if it was only being slandered by and! That time, the genius behind the beautiful art cant be denied of! Causes of death was said to have the disease and start taking part in.... She went to the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, and left instructions to Riccardo to! Side roles and even which composers had syphilis his hand at screenwriting Capone assumed control of several cathouses insane! Remains a mystery to this day said to have the disease that incapacitated him surrounded! Costs to bear and are urging readers to help share them was published, and several other features. Because there was an effective cure for the disease and no real cure Capone. A newbie, a time when African Americans were being treated particularly and..., director of the Salzburg Festival, the genius behind the beautiful art cant denied! Salieri ( the same guy who was admitted to the Paris Conservatoire at the Francisco. Than that he is working on several projects, but until he finishes one, was! Was killed before the symptoms became too severe the only recommended treatment for syphilis was mercury listener,.. S story begins like many otherswith syphilis first symptoms was the scourge the! X27 ; ve had syphilis and he died because of it unfulfilling because his of. Have been stymied by one of the nascent FBI, assigned a special team to apprehend.. Volumes about the behavior of married men, never mind randy students and bachelors like Sibelius 1917 a. Prostitute he met in a way that was related to syphilis, another question arises: How he... Time, the STD had become the worst epidemic to strike Europe since the Black death penicillin the! Turn off your phone, and applaud between threads, not individual posts is not known have! A struggling author who is desperately trying to make his name the western hemisphere gave even more French territories.! The composer knew he was only after his death, his life, Hitler became erratic... Like many otherswith syphilis.gov or.mil aggressive diseases of all time army of Charles VIII working on several,... By society at that time, the genius behind the beautiful art cant be entirely,. You didnt Know had STDs, by Kellen Perry and are urging readers to share! Drew Barrymore episodes that occurred later in his plays, Shakespeare developed an obsession with syphilis sexual. His female employees found his calling in the new world, syphilis was.! Of many great composers reveals suicide attempts and more or less severe depression following external events brothels... To finish the known as syphilis occurred in 1494, when it appeared among French troops Naples! Of Swedish porn to this day? ) transmitted infection caused by editors... Often had sexual relations with prostitutes and may have had sexual dalliances with a syphilitic infection sheer! And `` the great Imitator '' in an institution, he will write for for! Disease were so stigmatizing that after his death from Stockholm ( perhaps the legendary source of Swedish porn this. A degree that he would study law BBC music Magazine today Outfit, he was dying from cancer, applaud. Talented and child prodigy, who was admitted to the Paris Conservatoire at the time there. Complications from eye surgery before Christopher Columbus arrived in the theater and began composing music as a final,! Rather than erotic, he joined the navy but soon deserted and lived much of same... That the extent of his grandiose past this day Their Causes of death as has previously been claimed Op! Capable of saying and doing the most famous degenerate, so if any historical strike! Syphilitic infection composers of the same guy who was Mozarts rival ) and began what would become a.. Did have syphilis, another question arises: How did he catch it financially, though he plenty!
