I’ve just this minute received your letter of 2 Nov. If you haven’t already sent off the 2 violin tutors, hang on to them and don’t send them off. Dr Bridi of Rovereto is himself a good keyboard player. I know Count Castelbarco very well. I’m writing this in the steward’s rooms at Count Firmian’s.
32. Leopold Mozart to his wife, 22 December 1770, Milan
A Happy New Year!
Although, with God’s help, I shall be writing to you again this year, my letter will arrive a few days too late. The first stage rehearsal was on the 19th, having been preceded by one in the Sala di Ridotto 1 on the 17th. It went very well, thank God; yesterday evening there was a rehearsal for the recitatives, and today, after Ave Maria, there’ll be a second rehearsal on stage, with the dress rehearsal on Monday. Now you know from my previous letters and also from this one that we’ve had 5 rehearsals in all, namely, one with only a few violins, a full rehearsal in the Sala di Ridotto and 3 on stage. I’ll tell you at once how the performance goes on the 26th. My one consolation is that I can see that the performers and the orchestra are all pleased; and, thank God, I too still have ears. During the rehearsal I went to stand at the very back, beneath the main entrance, in order to be able to hear it properly at a distance. But perhaps my ears were too partial! Meanwhile we see and hear that our good friends are happy and contented and delighted to be able to congratulate my son, those who are ill disposed, by contrast, are now silent. The greatest and most distinguished conductors in the city, namely, Sgr Fioroni and Sgr Sammartini, have complete trust in us and are our true friends, as are Lampugnani, Piazza, Colombo etc.2 As a result, the envy or rather disbelief and prejudice that some people previously felt towards our son’s composition will do him little harm. At least I hope he won’t have the same bad luck as Sgr Jommelli, whose second opera in Naples has been such a flop that there are even plans to replace it. He’s such a famous composer, and the Italians make a terrible fuss about him. But it was a little foolish of him to undertake to write 2 operas for the same theatre within the space of a year, not least because he must have noticed that his first opera – which we saw – wasn’t a great success.3 At least you now know that, starting on the 26th, we’ll be at the opera every evening from an hour after Ave Maria until around 11 or almost 12 o’clock, the only exception being Fridays. In 2 weeks at the most I’ll be able to report on my journey to Turin. After that, things will move quickly, so that we can spend the last few days of the Carnival in Venice. Just arrange for Herr Haffner’s letters to be sent on to a friend in Venice and let me know who has them. In the meantime I hope to hear something about a secure private apartment, NB a secure apartment, as I’ve no great love of staying at inns unless I absolutely have to. Farewell to you both, we kiss you many 100, 000 times and I am, as always, your old
Mozart
Best wishes and a Happy New Year to all our friends.
Can you imagine Wolfg. in a scarlet suit with gold braid and sky-blue satin lining? The tailor is starting work on it today. He’ll be wearing this suit on the first 3 days, when he sits at the keyboard.4 The one that was made for him in Salzb. is too short by a standing hand, and certainly too tight and small.
[ Wolfgang’s postscript to his sister ]
Sinfonia
Ask whether or not they’ve got this symphony by Myslivecek 5 in Salzburg, for if they haven’t, we’ll bring it with us.
33. Leopold Mozart to his wife, 29 December 1770, Milan
Praise be to God, the first performance of the opera passed off to general acclaim on the 26th: and two things that have never before happened in Milan took place; namely, that – contrary to first-night custom – one of the prima donna’s arias was encored, although usually at the first performance no one ever calls out fuora ; and, second, there was extraordinary applause and cries of Viva il Maestro, viva il Maestrino after nearly all the arias, except for a few delle ultime Parti.1
On the 27th 2 of the prima donna’s arias were encored: as it was Thursday, with Friday to follow, they had to try to cut back, otherwise the duet, 2 too, would have been encored, as the noise was already starting. But most people still wanted to eat at home, and the opera, plus 3 ballets, lasts a good 6 hours: but they’ll now be shortening the ballets, which last a good 2 hours. How we wished that you and Nannerl could have had the pleasure of seeing the opera! – –
Never within living memory has there been such a desire to see the first opera in Milan as there was this time, as there had previously been such a terrible controversy: for every two people who said that the opera would be good, there were 10 who knew in advance that it was foolish nonsense, others that it was a muddle, and yet others that the music was German and barbarous. Here not even patronage helps to ensure that an opera is a success as everyone who attends is determined to talk, shout and criticize it in return for his money. Patronage was useful to us and, indeed, was necessary to ensure that the work was not prevented from going ahead and that a spoke wasn’t put in the maestro’s wheels while he was writing it and, later, during the rehearsals, so that he wasn’t prevented from appearing and so that the handful of spiteful individuals in the orchestra and among the performers were unable to play any tricks on him. I am writing this in haste as today is the 3rd performance. You know that in Italy people are always given other names, so that Hasse, for example, is called il Sassone, Galuppi il Buranello etc. etc. They are calling our son il Sgr Cavaliere Filarmonico.3
We kiss you both 100, 000 times and send our good wishes to all our friends. I am your old
Mozart
You’ll be paid 60 ducats in the name of Madame d’Asti náe Marianne Troger. I’ll tell you more next time.
34. Leopold Mozart to his wife, 5 January 1771, Milan
Milan, 5 January in the year that’s the same at the back as at the front and double in the middle (1771)
I can hardly find time to write to you as we’re at the opera every day and as a result don’t get to bed until half past 1 or even 2 o’clock as we also want to have a bite to eat after the opera; and so we get up late in the morning, and the days, which are in any case very short now, become even shorter in consequence. We’ve so many visits to make that we don’t know how we’ll manage. On Thursday we had lunch with Madame von Asteburg, formerly Mariandl Troger, who treated us to liver dumplings and sauerkraut, which Wolfg. had particularly asked for, as well as other fine dishes, including a splendid capon and a pheasant. Yesterday there was a small concert at His Excellency Count Firmian’s, at which Dr Bridi sang a cantata and gave Wolfg. a new, beautiful and difficult concerto to play. He gave us your good wishes, told us all that had happened and had nothing but praise for Nannerl. Today we’re again having lunch with His Excellency; and on the 11th or 12th we’ll be going to Turin but will be staying there for only about a week, after which we’ll return to Milan, pack everything properly together and move on to Venice. But we shan’t be staying more than 4 days in Milan – just enough time to see the second opera.1 Our son’s opera continues to enjoy universal acclaim and, as the Italians say, is alle Stelle! 2 Since the 3rd performance we’ve been listeners and spectators, now in the stalls, now in the boxes, or palchi, where everyone is eager to speak to the Sgr Maestro and see him at close quarters: throughout the performance we wander around, wherever we like, for the maestro is obliged to conduct the opera from the orchestra on only 3 evenings, when Maestro Lampugnani accompanied at the 2nd keyboard, but as Wolfg. is no longer playing the first one, Maestro Melchiorre Chiesa3 is now playing the second one. If anyone had told me some 15 or 18 years ago, when Lampugnani had written so much in England and Melchiorre Chiesa so much in Italy and I had seen their operatic arias and symphonies, that these men would be instrumental in performing my son’s music and that, when he left the keyboard, they would have to sit down and accompany that music, I’d have said that he was a fool fit only for an asylum. And so we see what Almighty God does with us humans if we do not bury the talents that He has most graciously given us.
<
br /> Write regularly every Friday and, as before, send all letters to Herr Troger until I instruct you otherwise.
I’d love to know when His Grace, our most gracious lord, will celebrate the 50th anniversary of his entry into the priesthood. If you discover when it is, write and tell me: I need to know for several reasons.
I’m enclosing the local newspapers, 4 which I’ve just received. You’ll find the opera right at the end.
Best wishes to the whole of Salzb. We kiss you 1, 000, 000 times. I am your old
Mozart
Please send these newspapers to His Grace, you need give them only to His Excellency the Chief Steward.
Mozart and his father left Milan on 4 February and by the beginning of March were in Venice, where Wolfgang gave a concert on 5 March. From Venice they travelled to Padua, where on 13 March Mozart received a contract for the composition of the oratorio La Betulia liberata. From here they at last turned north, arriving backat Salzburg on 28 March; at the end of that month Wolfgang was commissioned by Empress Maria Theresa to compose a two-act serenata, Ascanio in Alba K111, for the forthcoming marriage of her fourth son Archduke Ferdinand to Beatrice d’Este, the heiress of Ercole III d’Este, Duke of Modena. Father and son set out again on 13 August for Milan, where they arrived on 21 August. By the middle of September Wolfgang had composed the recitatives and choruses for Ascanio in Alba.
35. Leopold Mozart to his wife, 21 September 1771, Milan
The first orchestral rehearsal of Sgr Hasse’s opera1 will take place today after the Angelus. He is well, thank God. The serenata will be put into rehearsal at the end of next week; the first rehearsal of the recitatives is on Monday, and on the other days the choruses will be rehearsed.
Wolfg. will have finished by Monday or Tuesday at the latest. Sgr Manzuoli often calls on us, but we’ve been to his place only once. Sgr Tibaldi calls on us almost every day at 11 and sits at the table till around 1, while Wolfg. composes.2 They’re all uncommonly kind and have the greatest respect for Wolfg., indeed, we’ve not had the least trouble as we’re dealing only with good and famous singers and with sensible people. The serenata is really a short opera; the actual music in the opera is just as short but is prolonged by the 2 grand ballets that are performed after the 1st and 2nd acts, each of which is likely to last 3 quarters of an hour.
I don’t have enough space to describe all the preparations for these celebrations. The whole of Milan is astir, not least because many, if not most, of the preparations were postponed till the last moment, with the result that everyone is now at work, some at the theatre, others for His Highness’s reception – for the apartment and rooms etc. – for fencing off and lighting the cathedral – for clothes – – the servants’ liveries – – – carriages – horses etc. balls etc., painting and renovating the whole theatre etc. etc. – – in short, a hundred things that don’t occur to me. – – Everyone, everyone is on the move!
Miss Davies arrived here a few days ago; she drove past our lodgings in the mail coach. I recognized her, and she recognized us, just as we were standing on the balcony. A few hours later I went to call on her at the Three Kings, as I imagined that she’d be staying there, because it’s the most respectable inn and not far from us. She, her sister, father and mother could hardly express their delight: I showed her servant Herr Hasse’s lodgings, and a moment later Herr Hasse’s daughter appeared, incapable of expressing her delight, as they’ve been close friends since Vienna. They all asked after you and send you their best wishes. I expect you remember Miss Davies and her glass harmonica?3 – – –
Did you see the tightrope walkers when they were in Salzb? – They’re now on their way to Milan; people are busy building an extraordinarily large tent for them. The Italian plays finished 2 days ago as the theatre is needed for the rehearsals and to allow the painters to work day and night. These players were exceptionally good, especially in character parts and tragedies.
Anyone coming to Milan for these wedding celebrations is bound to see some wonderful things. A carriage for 4 persons travelling together wouldn’t cost much. The biggest problem would be finding a room. But I could help out here and take you in myself. We’d have to live like soldiers for a short time and make savings by having our meals cooked at home.
I’ve just received your letter of the 13th. I hope that the violinist de Hey isn’t that joker who’s the brother of the businesswoman in Amsterdam – the one who absconded? I’m sure you’ll remember who I mean. He too was called de Haie or La Haie. He wasn’t very old. Count Castelbarco still hadn’t arrived by yesterday. He’ll have broken his journey in Innsbruck and then on his estates at Ala and Rovereto.
In your last letter you said that many people had gone mad, and now you say that many are dying from bloody flux.4 That’s very bad, for if it affects people in the head and the arse, it certainly looks dangerous. I must have brought quite a dose of it with me from Salz. as I still have frequent fits of dizziness. But it’s hardly surprising – – where the air is already infected – – you can easily catch something.
That’s why I wrote to you about the pills. I want my arse to cure my head.
Best wishes to all our good friends. We kiss you both 10, 000, 000 times. I am your old
Lp Mozart
[ Wolfgang’s postscript to his sister ]
I’m well, all praise and thanks be to God. I can’t write much: first, because I don’t know what to say: second, my fingers are hurting so much from writing. Farewell. I kiss Mama’s hands. I often whistle my tune but not a soul answers. I’m now missing 2 arias from the serenata and then I’ll be finished. Best wishes to all our good friends. I no longer feel like returning to Salzburg, I’m frightened that I too could go mad.
Wolfgang
[ Leopold Mozart’s postscript on the inside of the envelope ]
You need to be careful when putting together the books. I’ve brought with me the two half-bound copies that were lying in the cabinet and discovered that in one of them the whole sheet, or K k was bound in twice.
This was an act of idiocy on the part of the bookbinder, who should have noticed. From now on address all your letters to Herr Troger.
The royal wedding tookplace on 15 October. Hasse’s Ruggiero was performed the next day and Mozart’s Ascanio in Alba on 17 October.
36. Leopold Mozart to his wife, 19 October 1771, Milan
Herr Marcabruni sends his best wishes, he’s here now, we’re just leaving for the theatre, the opera was on the 16th, and on the 17th was the serenata, which went down so amazingly well that it’s having to be repeated today. The archduke recently ordered 2 copies. All the courtiers and other people keep stopping us in the street to congratulate Wolfg. In short, I’m sorry that Wolfg.’s serenata has knocked Hasse’s opera into a cocked hat, so much so that I can’t even begin to describe it. I’ll answer your last letter and Nannerl’s postscript as soon as I can. You’ll see Italy in more enjoyable conditions than would have been the case amidst the present terrible din. Addio. We kiss you 10, 000 times. I am your old
Mzt
Pray! And thank God!
Best wishes to all our friends.
Herr von Troger sends his good wishes, especially to you and Nannerl, who is sighing so much for Milan.
Before leaving Italy, Leopold applied to Archduke Ferdinand for a position at the Milanese court for Wolfgang. However, when the archduke advised Maria Theresa of this, she wrote to him: ‘You askfor my permission to take the young Salzburger into your service. I do not know why, not believing that you have need of a composer or of useless people. If however it would give you pleasure, I have no wish to hinder you. What I say is intended only to prevent your burdening yourself with useless people and giving titles to people of that sort. In addition it lowers the standing of your court when these people go about the world like beggars.’ The reasons for her animosity are not clear. Mozart and his father left Milan on 5 December, arriving home on 15 December. The next day, Archbishop Siegmund von
Schrattenbach died.
37. Leopold Mozart to Johann Gottlob Immanuel Breitkopf, 7 February 1772, Salzburg
Honourable and Most Respected Sir,
You will, I trust, permit me to have recourse to the expedient of writing to you on a certain matter. I have to order some wind instruments for our court and have come to trust in the work of a certain Herr Grenser of Dresden, 1 whom I know only from his name, which I have found on a number of flutes and oboes. It is a matter of some concern to me and my honour that I should obtain a couple of well-tuned oboes and two bassoons as soon as possible, as a new prince will be elected on 9 March2 and I am concerned that, because of the absence of the necessary address, the enclosed letter may arrive late or may not reach Herr Grenser at all: and so I would ask you as a matter of the utmost urgency to forward this letter to him as quickly as possible and, if it is not inconvenient, to include with the letter a short letter of recommendation of your own, but do let me know the cost of sending the letter.
We returned from Milan on 15 Decemb. and as my son again added to his reputation by writing the serenata for the theatre, he has again been asked to compose the first opera for next year’s carnival in Milan3 and, immediately afterwards, the 2nd opera for the same carnival at the Teatro San Benedetto in Venice.4 And so we’ll be staying in Salzburg until the end of this coming September, before setting off for Italy – the third time we’ll have been there.
Mozart: A Life in Letters: A Life in Letters Page 16