Mozart: A Life in Letters: A Life in Letters (25 page)

Wolfg. Amadé Mozart

[
Maria Anna Mozart’s postscript
]

Wolfgang has left me with nothing to say, I hope to receive a letter from you soon and look forward to hearing that you’re well. We’re all keeping well, thank God, and wish only that you were here, something which, with God’s help, will happen, meanwhile don’t worry and forget all your troubles, everything will turn out for the best in the long run. We’re leading charmed lives, getting up early, going to bed late, and with visitors all day long: after living like lords, we shall get our rewards.

Addio ben mio
,
¹³
keep well till we’re back, stick your tongue up
your crack. And then shit in your bed. It’s turned 1 – enough said. We both wish you good luck – you can add your own rhyme.

All manner of good wishes to my dear Sallerl, Katherl, Nannerl, Pimperl.

Maria Anna Mozart

Today was the first time I’ve been out – I went to Mirabell for the last Mass and sat up in the side oratory. During the Mass I saw Herr von Gilowsky with Frau von Riedl on his arm and Herr Grenier with Herr von Riedl walking through the Mirabell courtyard. They were looking at the rooms. So, when Mass was over, I walked down the passage to the rooms to pay them my respects. They were very surprised when I told them you were in Munich and had perhaps already left. They promised to visit us on Monday. The marksmen arrived after lunch. The paymaster put up the prize, which Herr Bullinger won. But I came second, and as I was shooting for Mama, I won 7 kr. for her. Wolfg., for whom Herr Bullinger shot, won 13 kr. Afterwards Cassel
¹
and Katherl played with us until the dress rehearsal of the French play,
²
which was at 5. All 3 of them went to the theatre, while I took Pimperl for a walk – we went about 100 yards beyond the city gates, after which I brought her home, then went to the rehearsal myself. It was in costume, but no one else was admitted. 500 tickets are being distributed for Tuesday’s performance. The archb. has been in Weitwörth for a few days, but Count Gundacker
³
and his wife arrived this morning, so he returned this evening. The days have been extremely fine and warm. I’m feeling very well
today, thank God, and have coughed very little – barely 3 times in 2 hours. I’m still taking humectants and shall discuss this with Dr Barisani,
⁴
as I’ve gone very thin. I trust that with God’s help things will improve, as I’m now feeling calmer, but I’ll have to take great care of myself. I would only ask you, my dear Wolfgang, not to indulge in any excesses, you’ve been used since your youth to an orderly life. So you should avoid stimulants, as you know that you soon get hot and that you prefer cold to warmth –
clear proof that your blood has a tendency to heat up and start to boil at once
. Strong wines and, indeed, drinking large amounts of any wine are harmful to you. Just imagine the unhappiness and distress that this would cause your dear mother in a far-off country – I shall not even mention myself in this context. I have written to Monsieur Duschek at great length and added that you will find an opportunity in the course of your journey to write to him too. Madame Duschek
⁵
has answered my letter and told me that she too had heard about our troubles in Salzb., that both he and she take the keenest interest and hope to see our merits rewarded and that Wolfg. – naughtier than ever – should come to Prague either directly or indirectly, where he will always be most warmly welcome. I must now copy out for you the reply to my memorandum; you’ll see how they must have toiled to put it together.

Ex Decreto Cels
^mi
Principis
⁶
26 Sept. 1777. To signify to the fnrplicant that as a matter of extreme urgency His Grace desires that his music staff should be on good terms. In the most gracious confidence that the fnrplicant will behave calmly and peaceably towards the Kapellmeister and other persons employed in the court orchestra, His Grace is willing therefore to retain him in his service and at the same time to enjoin him most graciously to apply himself to serving the Church and his august person.

Did you ever in your life read such nonsense?

Anyone reading the petition and then this reply is bound to think that the chancery clerk wrote the reply to the wrong memorandum. Fortunately, no one has read it apart from Herr Bullinger, and I don’t expect anyone else will do so either as the paymaster told me today that I should just send for the money, adding that he had no need to read anything and wouldn’t in any case have objected to sending me the money as he hadn’t received the necessary instructions to strike me off.

Last Friday Herr Kolb
⁷
gave a big concert for the businessmen from out of town, also present were Ferlendis, Ferrari, Cassel, Stadler, Pinzger etc.
⁸
He played your
concerto
and
serenade
,
⁹
and as the music was so highly praised, causing an amazing stir and eliciting considerable applause, he said these were works by a good friend who was no longer here, at which everyone exclaimed:
What a shame that we’ve lost him!
It was in the hall at Eizenberger’s. By the end they were all drunk and carried each other in procession round the room, colliding with the lustre, or chandelier, in the middle and breaking the centre bowl and other pieces, which will have to be replaced, and so a part of it will have to be sent to Venice.

I sent off the parcel with the trousers by the mail coach this morning, I hope you’ll receive it, otherwise we’ll have to make enquiries, things often find their way to the customs, which is why I wrote on it:
one old pair of trousers and music
.

Monday morning, the 29th
. I’ve just received your first letter from Munich. Perhaps things will turn out well. – I’ve got to go,
Frau von Riedl
has just arrived.––––She stayed till half past 11, she sends you her best wishes and hopes you’ll be staying in Munich, she’ll be away for 2 months. To get back to the question of Munich, it might help if you can find an opportunity to let the elector know what you can do, especially in regard to fugues, canons and contrapuntal compositions. You really must flatter Count Seeau and tell him about
all the arias etc. and ballets that you want to write for his theatre, but without demanding any payment. You must be amazingly polite to the courtiers, for they all have a say in the matter. Consoli could sing the new scena
¹⁰
for Madame Duschek. You could mention Madame Duschek in passing to Count Seeau. Perhaps you could hold a concert in Count Seeau’s garden. If the affair appears at all hopeful, you’ll have to extend your stay in Munich; make friends with Herr Wotschitka,
¹¹
he always has an opportunity to speak to the elector and his stock is high; if the elector asks you to write something for the gamba, he can tell you what it should be like and show you the pieces that the elector likes most, so you can see what his taste is like. If you haven’t spoken to the elector or if you can’t speak to him and are obliged to apply to him in writing, Herr von Bellvall will advise you on who should write the letter. You can inform the elector and Count Seeau both in person and in writing that in regard to your knowledge of counterpoint, His Highness need only consult Padre Maestro Martini of Bologna and Herr Hasse in Venice to find out what these gentlemen think about you, and if you feel that it is necessary, I can send you the 2 diplomas appointing you
maestro di cappella
of the academies in Bologna and Verona when you were still only 14. I have every confidence in you; and I’m very happy that Mama, whom I kiss 1000 times, is well: and I can well believe that you’re feeling light-hearted. The whole company of sharpshooters sends you their best wishes. Nannerl went to see Frau von Schiedenhofen this morning, she may be calling on us this afternoon with Anna Kranach. Tomorrow’s gala has been abandoned, but there’s a big party today instead. The story about Monsieur Albert – do give him our best wishes – and Countess Schönborn is priceless. Give our best wishes to all our friends and acquaintances – – so has Herr Sigl got himself hitched up? – Hearty congratulations! Misses Mitzerl, Sallerl, Pimperl, Tresel,
¹²
Katherl Gil. etc. all send their best wishes,
especially Frau von Riedl and Count Leopold Arco etc. etc. I kiss you both with all my heart and am your old abandoned hermit with his housekeeper,

Mozart

I’m sending you the 2 diplomas and Padre Martini’s testimonial; make sure that the elector reads them, Count Seeau must read them too and see that the elector reads them. They will be a sensation! That you were made a
maestro di cappella
of these academies 7 years ago!

[
Postscript added by Abbé Joseph Bullinger
] My very dearest friend, I’m delighted to hear that you’re well; I knew very well that you’d be better off abroad. Farewell, and think of me a little from time to time. My most humble good wishes to your dear Mama

Your very good friend

Jos. Bullinger

[
Postscript added by Nannerl Mozart
]

I was pleased to hear that Mama and the clown are both cheerful and well. But we poor orphans just have to mope and while away our time. As for Pimperl, please send me a short prelude, but this time one from C to B flat, so that I can eventually learn it by heart.
¹³

Young handsome Herr Fichtl has just been given the last rites and looks set to sacrifice his life in his 17th year. His Mama is inconsolable. I’ve no good news for you. So kiss Mama’s hands and to you, you churl, you rogue, I give a juicy kiss and am Mama’s obedient daughter and your sister, who lives in hope – –

– – Marie Anne Mozart

Miss Pimpes still lives in hope and stands and sits by the door for half an hour at a time, thinking you’ll return at any moment. In spite of this, she’s well, can eat, drink, sleep, s--t and p--s.

I was again at Count Salern’s
¹
yesterday, 1 October, and today, the 2nd, I even lunched there. These last 3 days I’ve played quite enough, even though I’ve really enjoyed myself. Papa shouldn’t imagine that I like going to Count Salern’s because of – –, no, as she’s unfortunately in service and therefore never at home, but I’ll see her tomorrow morning at 10 when I go to court in the company of Madame Hepp née Fräulein d’Hosson. The court is leaving on Saturday and not returning until the 20th. Tomorrow I’m having lunch with Frau and Fräulein de Branca,
²
who is now half my pupil, as Sigl rarely appears and Becke, who normally helps her with the flute, isn’t here. During the 3 days that I was at Count Salern’s I played a lot of things from memory, then the 2 cassations for the countess and finally the graduation music with the rondeau.
³
You can’t imagine how pleased Count Salern was: but he understands music, for he was shouting bravo all the time, when other courtiers take a pinch of snuff – – blow their nose, clear their throat – – or strike up a conversation – – I told him that I only wished the elector had been there, so that he could have heard something – – he doesn’t know anything about me. He doesn’t know what I can do. But these gentlemen believe the first passer-by and are unwilling to find out for themselves.
It’s always the same
. I mean to put it to the test. He should summon all the composers in Munich and can even write to a few in Italy and France, Germany, England and Spain, I’m confident that I can [stand comparison] with each and every one of them. I told him all that had happened to me in Italy. I asked him to mention these things whenever conversation turned to me, he said I am the lowest of the low but I’ll gladly do so whenever I can. He’s also of the opinion that if I could stay here in the meantime, the affair would sort itself out. It wouldn’t
be impossible for me to get by on my own here, as I’d ask for at least 300 florins from Count Seeau; as for food, I wouldn’t need to worry as I’d always be invited out, and if I wasn’t invited out, Albert would be delighted to have me at his table. I eat little, drink water and just have a small glass of wine with my fruit at the end of the meal. I’d enter into a contract with Count Seeau along the following lines – all on the advice of my good friends: to deliver 4 German operas a year, partly comic, partly serious, and I’d have a
sera
⁴
of each, the proceeds going to me, as is the custom here. This alone would bring in at least 500 florins, making 800 florins with my salary – but it would undoubtedly be more. For the actor and singer Felix Reiner earned 200 florins at
his
benefit; and I’m
very popular
here. And how much more popular I’d be if I could help to promote the German national theatre in music? – – – And that would certainly happen with me; for I was already eager to write something when I heard the German singspiel.
⁵
The leading singer is called Kaiser,
⁶
she’s the daughter of a cook by one of the local counts. A most attractive young woman. Pretty on stage. I’ve not yet seen her close to. She was born here. When I heard her, it was only the third time she’d appeared on stage. She has a beautiful voice, not powerful, but not weak either. Very pure. Good intonation. Her teacher is Valesi;
⁷
and you can tell from her singing that her teacher not only understands singing but also knows how to teach it. When she sustains a note over a few bars, I was amazed at the beauty of her crescendo and diminuendo. She still has a slow trill, something I like very much, as it means that it will be all the purer and clearer once she wants to develop a quicker trill