Mozart: A Life in Letters: A Life in Letters (14 page)

The opera had by now been finished for some weeks. A start was made on copying the parts; and the first act was handed to the singers, followed shortly afterwards by the second: in the meantime my son was on several occasions asked by the nobility to perform this or that aria and even the first-act finale at the keyboard, and this was admired
by all, as Affligio saw and heard for himself at Prince Kaunitz’s. The rehearsals were now to begin.

But – how could I have suspected this! – this was also where the persecutions of my son began.

It is very rarely that an opera turns out a complete success at its very first rehearsal and that the occasional change does not have to be made. This is why we normally begin with the keyboard alone and why we never rehearse with all the instruments until the singers have rehearsed their parts together, especially the finales.

But here exactly the opposite happened. The roles were still inadequately rehearsed, the singers hadn’t had any keyboard rehearsals and the finales hadn’t been rehearsed together, and yet the first act was rehearsed with the full orchestra in order to ensure that from the outset the whole affair appeared deficient and confused. No one who was present will be able to call this a rehearsal without blushing; I shall say nothing about the unkind behaviour of those who have this on their consciences. May God forgive them.

After the rehearsal Affligio said to me:
it was good; but as this and that passage was too high, a few changes would have to be made here and there: I’d just like to speak to the singers; and as His Majesty will be here in 12 days, he could present the opera in 4 or, at the most, 6 weeks from now so as to have time to get everything into proper shape. I was not to dwell on this; he was a man of his word and would do as he’d promised; there was nothing new in this; with other operas, too, changes had to be made etc. etc
.

The changes demanded by the singers were duly made and two new arias added to the first act: but in the meantime
La Caschina
⁶
was performed at the theatre. By now the agreed term was over, and I heard that Affligio had cast another opera. It was even being said that Affligio would not perform the opera at all and that he had given people to understand
that the singers were unable to sing it
, even though these same singers had previously not just approved of it but praised it to the skies.

In order to defend me against such gossip, my son had to play through the whole opera at the clavier at the home of young Baron van Swieten in the presence of Count Spork,
⁷
the Duke of Braganza and other people knowledgeable about music. They all expressed their surprise at the behaviour of Affligio and the singers; all were much exercised by this turn of events and declared to a man that such un-Christian, untruthful and malicious behaviour was incomprehensible, that they preferred this opera to many an Italian opera and that instead of encouraging such a heaven-sent talent, a cabal was behind it all, a cabal evidently designed to prevent the innocent boy from achieving the honour and fortune he deserved.

I went to see the impresario to learn the truth of the matter. He said to me:
he had never been against performing the opera, but I would surely not hold it against him if he looked to his own interests; some doubts had been expressed to the effect that audiences might not like it; he’d put
La Caschina
into rehearsal and now intended to do the same with
La buona figliuola
,
⁸
but after that he’d perform the boy’s opera; if, contrary to his wishes, it failed to please, he would at least be provided with two other operas. I drew his attention to my already lengthy stay and the fact that I had had to extend it. He replied:
Come now! What are 8 days more or less, I’ll then take it in hand at once
. And we left it at that. Caratoli’s arias were altered; everything was sorted out with Garibaldi; and the same was true of Poggi and Laschi etc. Each of them assured me repeatedly that
they had no objections; everything depended on Affligio
. Meanwhile more than a month had passed. The copyist told me that he had received no further instructions to copy out the revised arias; and on hearing at the dress rehearsal of
La buona figliuola
that Affligio was planning to give another opera, I tackled him myself. In the presence of myself and Coltellini he thereupon ordered the copyist to have everything distributed within two days and gave instructions for the opera to be rehearsed with the orchestra in a fortnight at the latest.

But the poor child’s enemies – whoever they may be – have again
prevented this. That very same day the copyist received orders to stop work: and a few days later I discovered that Affligio had decided not to give the boy’s opera in the theatre after all. Wanting to know what was going on, I went to see him and was told
that he had called the singers together and they had admitted that although the opera was incomparably well written it was untheatrical and as a result they could not perform it
. Such talk was utterly incomprehensible to me. For would the singers really dare, without blushing for shame, to dismiss what they had earlier praised to the skies, a work that they themselves had encouraged the boy to write and that they had commended to Affligio himself? – – I replied to the effect that
he could not expect the boy to have taken the trouble to write an opera for nothing. I reminded him of his agreement; I gave him to understand that he had led us by the nose for four months and that as a result we had incurred expenses of more than 160 ducats. I reminded him of the time I had wasted and assured him that I would hold him responsible not only for the 100 ducats that he had agreed with the physician-in-ordinary Laugier but also for all other expenses
.

To this reasonable demand of mine he gave an incomprehensible answer that betrayed the embarrassment with which he now sought – I know not how – to rid himself of the whole affair, before leaving me with the most scandalously unkind remarks:
if I wanted to see the boy prostituted, he would ensure that the opera was booed and laughed off the stage
. Coltellini heard all this. Was this, then, to be the reward that my son was to be offered for the great labour of writing an opera – the manuscript of which runs to 558 pages – and for the waste of time and the expenses we have incurred? – – And ultimately – and it is this that concerns me most – what of my son’s honour and fame now that I no longer dare insist on a performance of the opera, since I have been given to understand plainly enough that no effort will be spared in performing it as wretchedly as possible; and since, furthermore, they are claiming now that the work is unsingable, now that it is untheatrical, now that it does not fit the words, now that he is incapable of writing such music – and all manner of foolish and self-contradictory nonsense, all of which would vanish like smoke to the shame of our envious and perfidious slanderers if, as I most
urgently and humbly entreat Your Majesty for my honour’s sake, the musical powers of my child were to be properly examined, so that everyone would then be convinced that the only aim of these people is to stamp on and destroy the happiness of an innocent creature to whom God has granted an extraordinary talent and whom other nations have admired and encouraged, and to do this, moreover, in the capital of his German fatherland.

As a result of Leopold Mozart’s petition, Joseph II ordered an investigation by Spork, but nothing came of it and
La finta semplice
was not performed. Presumably as a consolation, Wolfgang composed a trumpet concerto (K47c, lost), offertory (K47b, lost) and mass (K139) that were given on 7 December at the dedication of the orphanage church Mariae Geburt in the Rennweg. He also composed the singspiel
Bastien und Bastienne
K50, but it is not known if it was performed. The family returned to Salzburg on 5 January 1769. The following letter, presumed to have been written at this time, is the first in Wolfgang’s own hand.

Dear friend,

Forgive me for taking the liberty of tormenting you with a few lines, but you said yesterday that you can understand everything, no matter what I may jot down in Latin, and so my curiosity has got the better of me and persuaded me to write down sundry Latin words and lines for you: once you’ve read them, please be so kind as to send your answer by one of Hagenauer’s maidservants, as our Nandl
¹
can’t wait (but you must write me a letter too).
Cuperem scire, de qua causa, a quam plurimis adolescentibus otium adeo æstimatur, ut ipsi se nec verbis, nec verberibus, ab hoc sinant abduci
²

Wolfgang Mozart

Its cancellation in Vienna notwithstanding
, La finta semplice
was performed in Salzburg about the beginning of May and during the summer Wolfgang may have composed some or all of the cassations and serenades K62, 63 and 100 – a performance of at least one of these works was given on 8 August as part of the graduation ceremonies at the Salzburg Benedictine University. Later, in October, he composed and performed the ‘Dominicus’ mass K66 for the celebration of Fr Dominicus Hagenauer’s first mass. Archbishop Schrattenbach appointed the thirteen-year-old Wolfgang third concertmaster in the Salzburg court music establishment; although the position was unpaid, it represented the normal first step towards full, paid employment at court. On 13 December father and son set out for Italy with the purpose of giving Wolfgang the opportunity to win fame and commissions through public concerts in the towns they visited and private performances at the homes of influential noblemen; even in the late eighteenth century, Italy remained the first port of call for aspiring composers and performers. But first came the arduous journey across the Alps.

We arrived in Kaitl at 1 o’clock and had some potted veal for lunch accompanied by the most fearful smell; we washed it down with a few draughts of good beer as the wine was no better than a laxative.

It was after seven by the time we reached Lofer; after I’d ordered
the meal, we went to visit the prefect, who was very put out that we’d not called on him straightaway. As we’d already ordered our meal at the inn, we had it brought over to the prefect’s house and ate it there, gossiping till 10 o’clock, when we were given a fine room and a good bed there, in the morning I had some chocolate to drink and Wolfg. had some excellent soup. By midday we were in St Johann and arrived this evening in Wörgl, where I’d arranged for us to meet the vicar, Herr Hartmann Kellhammer from Chiemsee. He has just arrived. He sends his good wishes. It’s now 10 o’clock, we have to go to bed as we’ve got to be up at 5 in the morning. I’m told that the roads were very bad, but I slept soundly throughout the journey as I saw that we had a very good driver. There’s an amazing amount of snow hereabouts, especially between Lofer and St Johann. Keep well and stay cheerful! I’ll write again from Innsbruck.

[
Postscripts added by Mozart, to his mother and sister
]

Dearest Mama,

My heart is bursting with sheer pleasure as I’m enjoying this journey so much, it’s so warm in the carriage and our coachman is a jolly fine fellow who drives so fast whenever the road lets him. Papa will already have given Mama an account of the journey, my reason for writing to Mama is to show that I know my duty and that I am, with the deepest respect, her devoted son

Wolfgang Mozart

[
Next section entirely in Italian
]

My dearest sister,

We’ve arrived safely in
Wörgl
, thank God, if I must tell the truth, I have to say that travelling is good fun and that it’s not at all cold and that it’s as warm in our carriage as in a room. How’s your sore throat? Didn’t our Signor Seccatore
¹
turn up on the day we left? If you see Signor Schiedenhofen,
²
tell him that I’m for ever singing:

Tralaliera, Tralaliera, and tell him that it’s not necessary for me to pour sugar in my soup now that I’m no longer in Salzburg. At Lofer we ate and slept at the home of Signor Helmreichen, who’s the prefect there. His wife is a splendid woman, she’s the sister of Signor Moll.
³
I’m hungry, I feel a great desire to eat something. Meanwhile, farewell.
Addio
:

Wolfgang Mozart

PS: My best wishes to all my good friends, to Signor Hagenauer (the merchant), to his wife, to his sons and daughters, to Signora Rosa and her husband, and to Signor Adlgasser and Signor Spitzeder. Ask Signor Hornung
⁴
from me whether he again thought it was me in bed, not you.

From Wörgl, the pair continued on through the mountains to reach Verona on 27 December. On 5 January 1770, Wolfgang gave his first Italian concert, at the Philharmonic Academy of Verona.

I’m very sorry not to have received your first letter. It must still be lying at the post office in Bozen.
¹
I’ll make enquiries: it will have gone there from Innsbruck. Let me say straightaway that
we’re all well, thank God
. You’d be doing me a great favour by letting me know how many letters you’ve received from me: I sent you one
from
Wörgl
, one by the
hired coachman
, one by post from
Innsbruck
and one
from Bozen
. I must start by asking you to give Herr Ranftl my best wishes and telling him that we were given a warm welcome by Herr Stockhammer and most lavishly entertained. I also met my old acquaintance Herr Stickler there. Please give my best wishes to Herr Kerschbaumer, too, and tell him that Herr Senblrock received us most courteously and also gave us a letter of recommendation to take with us to Bologna. We spent only a day and a half in Bozen. We’d only just arrived in Rovereto when we received a visit from a certain Cristani, who took the woman’s part in the play
Cato’s Child
at the Collegio Rupertino and who invited us to have lunch with him and his brother the next day. And who was this brother?––The very same Nicolò Cristani who stayed with the Master of the Pageboys and consistorial councillor Johann Andreas Cristani and whom I taught to play the violin; he’s now the most important person in Rovereto and the whole district, namely, the country lieutenant, representing Her Majesty the Empress. I expect you’ll still remember him, he stayed with the pageboys. As soon as we arrived, he said how much Wolfg. resembles you, he remembers just what you look like. And who else did we find there? – – Signor Comte Settimo Lodron,
²
consistorial councillor Cristani, a certain Pilati, Festi etc.: the first 2 of them had driven over from Villa Lagarina on Count Lodron’s
³
estates, for the news that we were coming had already reached Rovereto from Innsbruck. You can easily imagine how pleased we were to see each other again after 19, 20 and more years and that it was a most enjoyable lunch. While we were at table, Herr Cosmi’s valet arrived and invited us to lunch the next day. It was another delightful occasion, all the more so in that as a widower Herr Cosmi was engaged to a respectable young lady whom he married a few days after we’d left. His mother and 3 sisters were also there. If we’d remained in Rovereto any longer, we’d have had to stay with them; and if ever we return, we are to lodge with them. Baron
Pizzini and Count Lodron, to whom we were recommended by His Excellency the Marshal of the Prince’s Household, honoured us with all manner of civilities. The nobility organized a concert at the home of Baron Todeschi.
⁴
And who was this Baron Todeschi? – – The same gentleman whom Herr Giovanni once brought to us in Vienna to hear Wolfg. play. Perhaps you still remember him. I don’t need to say what a credit to us all Wolfg. has been. In the afternoon of the following day we went to see the organ in the main church; and although only 6 or 8 leading persons knew we were coming, we found the whole of Rovereto assembled in the church and some strong fellows had to go ahead and make way for us to the choir, where it then took us another five to ten minutes to get to the organ as everyone wanted to get close to us. We spent 4 days in Rovereto. It’s not a large town and was once very run-down, but thanks to the hard work of its inhabitants it has become increasingly fashionable for as long as people can remember, with most of the population earning their living by growing wine and trading in silk. There are now many well-to-do houses here, and the people are very polite towards strangers.