World celebrates Mozart's 250th birthday

VIENNA, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Celebrations took place worldwide Friday to commemorate the 250th birthday of composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

New productions of Mozart operas "Idomeneo" and "The Magic Flute" were performed in Vienna, Austria, where Mozart died at age 35, the BBC reported.

A street party in his birthplace of Salzburg, Vienna, featured a giant birthday cake. Dozens of shops and stalls sold Mozart memorabilia ranging from cuddly toys to T-shirts, caps and even golf balls.

Australians were the first to celebrate, with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra performing "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" and "Divertimento No. 11 in D major" on a floating aquashell. Concerts dedicated to Mozart were also conducted in Moscow, Prague, London, Tokyo, Havana, New York and Nashville, among other cities.