Mozart: A Life in Letters: A Life in Letters (26 page)

– it’s certainly easier to do a fast trill. The people here are genuinely pleased with her – – – just as I am with them. Mama sat in the stalls, she was there by half past 4 in order to be sure of a seat, but I didn’t
get there until half past 6 as I can go into any of the boxes. After all, I’m well known. I was in the Brancas’ box. I watched Mlle Kaiser through my opera glasses, and she often drew a tear from me; I often called out
brava
,
bravissima
, as I kept thinking that it was only her third time on stage. The piece was
The Fishermaiden
, a very good translation of Piccinni. They don’t yet have any original works. They’d like to stage a German
opera seria
as soon as they can and want me to write it. Professor Huber, whom I’ve already mentioned, is one of the people who wants me to do so. Time for bed; there’s no alternative. It’s just turned 10!––

Baron Rumlingen
⁸
recently complimented me by saying how much he enjoys spectacles, good actors and actresses, good singers, and, in addition, a fine composer like me – – – of course, it’s all just talk – – and it’s easy to talk. – – But he’s never talked like that with me before. Good night. Until tomorrow, when, God willing, I’ll have the honour of writing to you again, my dearest Papa.

[
Maria Anna Mozart’s postscript
]

Wolfgang is having lunch today with Madame Branca, while I had lunch at home, but as soon as it strikes 3 I’m going to see Frau von d’Hosson, who’s sending someone round to collect me. Herr von Grimmel called on us again yesterday with Herr von Unold, he’s our good friend and is trying hard to talk us into going to Memmingen and giving a good concert there, he assures us that we’ll make more there than at a court, I think that’s true, as people rarely go to such places, so that they’re glad to have what they can get.

How is your health? I’m still not satisfied with your letters, I don’t like that cough, which has been going on for such a long time, there shouldn’t be anything the matter with you. Use the sago soon, the sooner the better, so that you finally get your strength back. We received the parcel by the mail coach and the other one by the ordinary post. Best wishes to Nannerl, and tell her not to be cross with you but to make sure that there’s nothing to annoy you and to
help you pass the time, so that you don’t get melancholy. Pimperl – I hope – is doing her duty and ingratiating herself with you, she’s a good and faithful fox terrier. Best wishes also to Tresel and tell her it’s all the same whether

[
Mozart’s postscript
]

I shit the dirt or she eats it. But now for something more sensible.

I’m writing this on
3 October
. The court is leaving tomorrow and won’t be coming back before the 20th. If they’d stayed, I’d have continued to take the necessary steps and would have remained here for some time longer, but as it is, I hope to continue my journey with Mama next Tuesday; it’s like this: the company I recently told you about will be formed in the meantime, so that, when we grow tired of travelling, we shall have a safe place to return to. Herr von Grimmel saw the bishop of Chiemsee today, he often has dealings with him, not least because of the salt. He’s a strange individual. Here he’s called Your Grace – by his
servants
, that is. He’d like nothing better than for me to remain here and was most enthusiastic when he spoke to the prince about me. He told me, just leave it to me, I’ll speak to the prince. I know how best to speak to him, I’ve often done lots of favours for him. The prince promised that I’d
certainly
be taken on, but things can’t move as quickly as that. Once the court returns, he’ll speak to the elector with all the necessary seriousness and zeal.

I was at Count Seeau’s at 8 this morning; I was very brief and said only ‘I’m only here, Your Excellency, to explain myself and my business; it has been objected that I should go to Italy. But I’ve spent 16 months in Italy and written 3 operas,
⁹
so I’m already well enough known. Your Excellency will see from these papers what other progress I’ve made.’ I showed him the diplomas: I’m showing Your Excellency all this and telling you this simply so that, whenever people speak of me and do me any injustice, Your Excellency may be justified in taking my part. He asked me if I was now going to go to France, I said I’d be staying in Germany, but he understood me to
mean
Munich
and, smiling delightedly, said: So, you’re staying on here? I said, no, I’d like to have stayed and, to tell the truth, I’d like to have received something from the elector only so that I could then have served Your Excellency with my music and without any thought of self-interest. It would have been a pleasure for me to do so. He even adjusted his nightcap at this.

By 10 o’clock I was at court, where I saw Countess Salern. She’d already received the arias. Of course, the Robinigs say whatever comes into their heads. I then had lunch at the Brancas. Privy Councillor Branca had been invited to the French ambassador’s and so he wasn’t at home. People call him their Excellency. His wife is French. She can barely speak a word of German, I spoke French to her all the time. I was quite cheeky. She told me that I didn’t speak too badly and had a good habit of speaking slowly, which made me easy to understand; she’s a most excellent woman, with a real
savoir vivre
. Her daughter plays well, though she still can’t play in time. I thought that she or her ear was the cause, but now I can blame only her teacher. He’s too indulgent and instantly satisfied. I practised with her today. I’d be willing to wager that if she studied with me for 2 months she’d be able to play really well and accurately. She asked me to send her best wishes to you both and also to the whole of the Robinig household. She was at the convent at the same time as Fräulein Louise.
¹⁰
Later a certain Fräulein Lindner, who is now at Count Salern’s as governess to the 2 little countesses, likewise asked me to send all manner of messages to the Robinigs and to Fräulein Aloisia von Schiedenhofen, with whom she was at the same convent. At 4 I went to see Frau von d’Hosson, where I found Mama and Frau von Hepp. I played till 8 o’clock, then we came home. I should add that at half past 9 a small group of 5 players – 2 clarinets, 2 horns and 1 bassoon – turned up. Herr Albert – whose name day it is tomorrow – had arranged for them to play in honour of the two of us. They didn’t play at all badly together. They were the same people
as those who are on duty in Albert’s hall, but it’s clear that they’ve been coached by Fiala.
¹¹
They played works by him, and I have to say that they were very attractive pieces. He has some very good ideas. Tomorrow we’re holding a little scratch concert – on the wretched keyboard, of course. Ow! Ow! Ow! I hope you have a very restful night and improve a good wish by hearing to hope that Papa is recovered full. I forgive your begging on account of my frightful handwriting, but ink, haste, sleep, dreams and everything else. – – – I Papa you, my very own kissing, 1000 times the dearest, and my embrace, the hearts, sister I with all my scoundrel, and am now and ever shall be, Amen,

Wolfgang most obedient your

Amadé Mozart son

Munich,
3 Oct.1777

To all good friends

bad friends

good friends

bad friends

all manner of messages!

Mon très cher Fils
,

I can’t imagine that anything good will come of Munich, the elector is bound to take no one on unless there’s a vacancy: and on top of everything, there are always secret enemies who would thwart you
out of fear
. Herr Albert’s plan certainly demonstrates the greatest friendship imaginable, yet, however possible it may seem to you that you’ll find 10 people, each willing to give you a ducat a month, I see this as an impossibility. And who could these philanthropists or music
lovers be? – – And what kind of a commitment or service would they demand from you in return? That Count Seeau may give you something makes much more sense to me: but without the former, the latter would be insignificant. If Herr Albert can arrange this for a year – I won’t ask for more – you could agree to a proposal from Count Seeau: but what would he demand? – – Perhaps all the work that Herr Michl
¹
has done? – – Running round, training singers? – – It would be the devil’s own work; it would be impossible! In short, I don’t see where these 10 charming friends would come from. Also, Herr Albert may not be able to speak to them straightaway, as some of them may be out of town. I’d prefer them to be businessmen and other honest people rather than courtiers, for a lot depends on whether they will keep their word and for how long.
If the matter is feasible, well and good! You should accept it
. But if the matter can’t be brought to an immediate conclusion, you can’t sit around, wasting time and money as you can’t expect to earn a penny in Munich, in spite of all the compliments and the demonstrations of friendship. If this affair can’t be set going now, Herr Albert and our other good friends can think about setting things in motion while you continue your journey and wait to hear from him. The rage for the Italians no longer goes very far and is virtually restricted to Munich. That’s all it is – a fashion that’s got out of hand! In
Mannheim
, on the other hand, everyone apart from a few castratos is already German.
In Trier
, at the court of His Royal Highness the Elector Prince Clemens of Saxony, there’s only Maestro Sales,
²
the rest are German, in
Mainz
they’re all German, in
Würzburg
there’s only a violinist, Sgr Fracassini,
³
who I think is now leader or even Kapellmeister – but that’s only because of his German wife, a singer and a native of Würzburg. There isn’t a single Italian working for any of the minor Protestant princes. I’m writing this in haste, Herr Lotter wants to take it with
him. I’m enclosing the chorales
⁴
– you may find them useful and even necessary; one has to know everything. – – I’ve just been to see the
chief steward
⁵
who’ll be coming here specially during the next few days so that I can tell him about everything – his own house is in a state of constant uproar, with people always being announced or his countess rushing in. He’s genuinely fond of you, and before he heard what had happened, he’d already bought 4 horses and was looking forward to the pleasure he’d give you by coming with 4 riding horses. Once he knew what had happened, his annoyance was indescribable. When he was paying a courtesy call on the archbishop, the latter said to him:
At least we’ve now one less person in the orchestra
. He replied:
You Grace has lost a great virtuoso
.–
Why?
asked the prince.– – His reply:
He is the greatest keyboard player I’ve heard in my life. On the violin he has served Your Grace well, and he was also a very good composer
. The archbishop fell silent, as there was nothing he could say to this. I must sign off now as there’s no more space. You should at least write and
let me know that you’ve received such and such a letter
. By now you should have received the packet and roll with the diplomas and Padre Martini’s testimonial. There was a hanging this morning. This evening there’s a play, tomorrow a masked ball that’s being given by Prince Breuner.
⁶
We kiss you millions of times. I am your old

Mozart

Make sure you don’t lose Padre Martini’s testimonial.

[
Postscript added by Nannerl Mozart
]

Dearest Mama and Brother,

I’m delighted to hear that you’re both well and in good spirits. I still haven’t told you my daily routine since you left. So I’ll start today.
⁷

Keep well, and let us know if you’ve received our 4 letters and the parcel. I kiss Mama’s hands and remind you not to forget me.

Maria Anna Mozart

Secretary Strasser has finally decided to marry the apothecary’s daughter, Tresel Ruprecht, within a month.

No position was forthcoming in Munich so Mozart and his mother left for Augsburg on 11 October
.

Mon très cher Père
,

As for the daughter of the secretary of war, Herr Hamm,
¹
I can say only that she must necessarily have a gift for music as she has been studying it for only 3 years but can play many pieces very well. But it’s not easy for me to explain how she strikes me when she plays; – – – she seems strangely affected – – with her long bony fingers she clambers over the keyboard in such a strange way. Of course, she has never had a decent teacher, and if she stays in Munich she’ll never become what her father wants and demands of her. He wants her to excel at the keyboard – – if she were to study with Papa in Salzburg, she would find it doubly useful, both from a musical point of view and in terms of her intelligence, for there’s not much sign of the latter. I’ve already had a good laugh at her expense, you’d certainly be well rewarded for your pains. She can’t eat much as she’s too simple-minded for that. Should I have tested her? – –I couldn’t do so for laughing. If I showed her what to do by playing something a
number of times with my right hand, she would immediately say
bravissimo
in a mouse-like voice. I’ll now finish off my account of my time in Augsburg as briefly as possible. Herr von Fingerlin, to whom I gave Papa’s best wishes, was also at Director Graf’s. The people there were all very polite and kept talking about a concert. They also said it would be one of the most brilliant we’ve had in Augsburg. You’ve a great advantage in that you’re acquainted with our magistrate, Herr Langenmantel; and the name Mozart, too, carries great weight here. We parted in the best of spirits. Now, Papa must know that at Herr
Stein’s
young Herr Langenmantel said he’d arrange for a concert to be held at the Stube
²
– as something exceptional that would do me great credit – just for the patricians. You can’t imagine how emphatically he spoke and promised to pursue the matter. He agreed that I’d return the next day and hear his response. I went there – it was the 13th – he was very polite but said that for now he had nothing definite to tell me. I again played for about an hour. He invited me to have lunch with him the next day, the 14th. During the morning he sent word, asking me to come at 11 and bring something with me, he’d invited some members of the orchestra and they wanted something to play. I sent him something at once. Arrived at 11. He then offered a whole string of excuses, saying quite calmly: Listen, the concert’s off. Oh, I got very angry yesterday because of you. The patricians told me that their coffers are nearly empty and that you’re not the sort of virtuoso to whom one could give a souverain d’or. I smiled and said I didn’t think so either.
NB: He’s intendant of the orchestra at the Stube and his old man is the magistrate
. I didn’t make any fuss about it. We sat down at table. His old man was also having lunch up there; he was very polite but didn’t say anything about the concert. After lunch I played 2 concertos.
³
Something from memory.