After the favor shown them at Court, the gifted children became the rage in Vienna society.  Invitations poured in from every side, and many gifts.  Those bestowed by the royal family were perhaps the most valued.  Wolfgang’s present was a violet colored suit, trimmed with broad gold braid, while Nannerl received a pretty white silk dress.  Each of the children also received a beautiful diamond ring from the Emperor.  A portrait of the boy in his gala suit, which was painted at the time, is still preserved.

The following year the Mozarts took the children on a longer journey, this time with Paris in view.  They stopped at many towns and cities on the way.  At Frankfort the first performance was so successful that three more were given.  A newspaper of the time says “little Mozart is able to name all notes played at a distance, whether single or in chords, whether played on the piano, or any other instrument, bell, glass or clock.”  The father offered as an additional attraction that Wolfgang would play with the keyboard covered.

The family stayed five months in Paris; the children played before the Court at Versailles, exciting surprise and enthusiasm there and wherever they appeared.  From Paris they traveled to London, in April, 1764.

Leopold Mozart’s first care on reaching the great English metropolis was to obtain an introduction at Court.  King George III and the Queen were very fond of music, and it was not long before an invitation came for the children to attend at the Palace.  The King showed the greatest interest in Wolfgang, asking him to play at sight difficult pieces by Bach and Handel.  Then the boy, after accompanying the Queen in a song, selected the bass part in a piece by Handel, and improvised a charming melody to it.  The King was so impressed that he wished him to play the organ, in the playing of which Wolfgang won a further triumph.

The King’s birthday was to be celebrated on June 4 and London was crowded with people from all parts of the country.  Leopold Mozart had chosen June 5 as the date for his first public concert.  The hall was filled to overflowing; one hundred guineas being taken in.  Many of the assisting performers would take no fee for their services, which added to the father’s gratitude and happiness.

Not long after this Leopold Mozart fell ill, and the little family moved to Chelsea, for the quiet and good air.  Later they were given another reception at Court, where, after Wolfgang’s wonderful performances, the children won much applause by playing some piano duets composed by the boy—­a style of composition then quite new.

In July, 1765, the family left London and traveled in Holland, after which came a second visit to Paris, where they added to their former triumphs, in addition to playing in many towns on the way back.  Finally the long tour was brought to a close by the return to Salzburg in November, 1766.