Maria Theresa Paradis (also von Paradies) (1759–1824) was an Austrian performer and composer who lost her sight at an early age, and for whom Mozart may have written his Piano Concerto No. 18 in B flat major. Early life Maria Theresa von Paradis was the daughter of the Imperial Secretary of Commerce and Court Councilor (Joseph Anton Paradis) to the Empress Maria Theresa, for whom she was named. The Empress, however, was not her godmother, as was often believed. Between the ages of 2 and 5 she lost her eyesight. Paradis was treated by the famous Anton Mesmer from late 1776 until the middle of 1777, who was able to improve her condition temporarily until she was removed from his care, amid concerns on the one hand of possible scandal, on the other hand at the potential loss of her disability pension. In either case, at this departure from Dr Mesmer the blindness came back for good. She received a broad education

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