Mozart: A Life in Letters: A Life in Letters (22 page)

The case with the brother is now over!
⁵

How upset Madame von Schiedenhofen and Madame von Heffner
⁶
etc. etc. are bound to be: we send our special wishes to both their houses.

I have good reason to join with the whole of Salzb. in grieving over the loss of a 2nd Salzb. doctor; any successor will send many to
meet their maker before he knows the true nature of a nation and its climate.

I half suspect that Frau Niderl will leave her son here. Only a poor education can be expected of a deaf mother.

Perhaps it will work to the boy’s advantage.

You don’t need to write to me again
. In my next letter I’ll tell you when we’ll be leaving and where we’ll be going.

We’ll probably come by the most direct route, the alternative via Graz strikes me as too inconvenient.

Frau Niderl has just arrived, distressed beyond belief, he’ll be buried this evening at 8.

In addition to the serenade K185, Mozart also composed six string quartets (K168–173) during his stay in Vienna. He and his father left Vienna for Salzburg about 24 September. In December Wolfgang composed the ‘little’ G minor symphony K183 and his first keyboard concerto, K175. His activities in Salzburg during 1774 are largely unknown, although he was compositionally active: his major works that year included two masses (K192 and 194), two litanies (K193 and 195), the symphonies K201, 202 and possibly 200, the serenade K204, the concertone K190 and the bassoon concerto K191. Possibly in the late spring or summer, he received a commission to compose the
opera buffa,
La finta giardiniera (‘The Pretend Gardener-girl’), for Munich, and Mozart and his father travelled there on 6 December to finish composing the work, oversee the rehearsals and direct the first performances.

You should have received a letter from me; but I’ve not yet seen one from you, presumably you thought that you first needed to have an address: but this isn’t necessary, the post already knows where we’re staying. Although it’s superfluous, you can write at the bottom, if
you want:
Chez Monsieur de Pernat in Belval’s House
.
¹
Thank God, we are well! I still haven’t been able to find anywhere suitable for Nannerl,
²
as great care is needed in Munich on this point. And there’s something else. It’s like Salzb. here. An opera for which one pays can’t be performed more than twice in succession, otherwise there’d be very few people in the theatre, other operas have to be given for 2 or 3 weeks, and only then can the earlier one be put on again – it’s just the same with plays and ballets. As a result they know at least 20 operas by heart, operas that are performed in rotation while a new one is put into rehearsal. And Wolfgang’s opera will not be given for the first time before Christmas and, I think, on the 29th, so it’s likely that Nannerl won’t see it at all, for once the carnival is in full swing, only short, lightweight operettas are given on a small stage run up in the
Redoutensaal
,
³
where masks gather and there are lots of gaming tables and where there’s nothing but noise, masks, conversation and gambling at the many tables. Nothing sensible is performed here as no one pays any attention.

I’ll write at greater length in my next letter. Could I now ask you to look out the 2 Litanies de Venerabili, or
Holy Sacrament, that are performed at the Hours
. One is
by me
and is
in D
– the score will be with it, the more recent one starts with a violin and bass staccato – you know the one, the 2nd violin has nothing but triplets in the
Agnus Dei
. Then Wolfgang’s great Litany.
⁴
The score is with it, bound in blue paper. NB: make sure that all the parts are there, as these 2 Litanies will be performed here during the Hours on New Year’s Day. They must be handed in at the post on Saturday evening as the mail coach leaves on Sunday. The address needs to be written on it:
À Monsieur Jean Nepomuc de Pernat chanoine e grand Custos de Notre Dame à Munic

We kiss you many 1000 times and send everyone our best wishes.

I am your old

Mzt

On the evening of Holy Innocents’ Day,

as the post leaves tomorrow at noon.

Happy New Year!

On the very day that you were with His Excellency Count Saurau,
¹
the first rehearsal of Wolfg.’s opera was held at 10 in the morning. People liked it so much that it has been postponed until 5 January 1775 so that the singers are more familiar with their parts and, having the music more securely in their heads, may act with greater confidence so as not to ruin the opera, which would have been an overhasty affair if we’d had to have it ready by 29 Decemb. In short, the music proved amazingly successful and will be performed, therefore, on 5 January. All now depends on the production, which I hope will go well as the performers are by no means ill disposed towards us. So it was a good time to inform His Excellency Count Saurau of our journey. I’m happy with that. I’m fully prepared to believe that they are all perfectly polite – that, after all, is their policy, but they suspect all manner of things. You or Nannerl must go to Herr Hagenauer and ask him to give her a
letter of credit
for me to one of his agents. For even if we receive a present straightaway, it’s often delayed and you can’t wait for it, indeed sometimes it’s not sent until later, and I can’t rely on this as everything here is slow and often confused. You need only inform Herr Joseph and give him my best wishes. I’ve some Spanish tobacco in a tin. Nannerl can fill a small snuffbox with it and bring it with her, as my Spanish tobacco is running out. There’s an oval pinchbeck tin in Wolfg.’s drawers, that’ll do. I again urge Nannerl to wear a man’s good fur coat and wrap her feet in straw.

Wolfg. has had to stay indoors for 6days with a swollen face. His cheeks were swollen both inside and outside, as was his right eye, for 2days he could eat only broth. So you need to protect your face and ears as you’ll be driving into the wind and it cuts into your face the whole time in a half-open coach. And if you get into the coach without having warmed your feet first, you’ll not be able to get them warm again for the rest of the day. I expect she’ll get in at Herr Gschwendtner’s,
²
so her fur boots should be taken there the day before and hung by the stove so that they’re warmed through and through and not put on until she’s ready to leave. I expect Nannerl will take some money with her for emergencies. If anything else occurs to me, you’ll hear from me on Monday before she leaves, otherwise I can’t think of anything else. Farewell, we kiss you both. Best wishes, I am your old

Mozart

[
Wolfgang’s postscript to Nannerl
]

My dearest sister,

Please don’t forget to keep your promise before you leave and call on you know who – – – –I have my reasons. Please give them my best wishes – – – but in the most emphatic and most tender way – – – and – – oh, I don’t need to worry, I know my sister, tenderness is second nature to her; I know she’ll do her utmost to give me this pleasure, and from self-interest too – – –abit malicious – – – we’ll argue over this in Munich. Farewell.

[
Leopold Mozart’s postscript
]

Nannerl also needs to know where she’s going. She must write out the following on a slip of paper and give it to Herr Gschwendtner or keep it about herself:

When you drive up through the Thal, through the arch, on to the main square, you keep close to the arches on your left, and once you’ve passed the narrow passageway at the end of which you can see the Rindermarkt
,
it’s the 5th house along from the passageway. In the middle of this house, which is painted white, is a small round painting of St Francis Xavier, and right at the top, on the 4th floor, is a statue of Our Lady. Frau von Durst is on the third floor. We’ll be there from just after 2 until half past
.

NB: It’s the
5th house
once you’ve passed the passageway through which you can see St Peter’s on the Rindermarkt, it’s called the Spatzenreuther House on the square.
³
I think I’ve explained it sufficiently clearly.

Praise be to God!
My opera was staged yesterday, the 13th, and it turned out so well that I can’t begin to describe the noise to Mama. First, the whole theatre was so packed that many people had to be turned away. After every aria there was invariably a tremendous din, with clapping and shouts of
viva Maestro
. Her Highness the Electress and the Dowager Electress
¹
– who were opposite me – also said bravo to me. Once the opera was over, during the time when people are normally quiet until the ballet begins, there was nothing but clapping and shouts of bravo; as soon as it stopped, it started up again, and so on. Afterwards I went with Papa to a particular room through which the elector and the whole court have to pass and kissed the hands of the elector and electress and their majesties, all of whom were very kind. First thing this morning His Grace the bishop of Chiemsee
²
sent word, congratulating me on the fact that the opera had turned out so well. As for our return home, this won’t be happening so soon, and Mama must not wish it otherwise, for she
knows how good it is to breathe freely
³
– – – – we’ll be back soon enough. One good and necessary reason is that the opera will be given again next Friday and I’m very much needed at the performance – – otherwise people won’t recognize the piece – for very strange things happen here. I kiss Mama’s hands 1000 times. Best wishes to all our good friends. My compliments to Monsieur Antretter, I hope he’ll forgive me for not yet having replied to him, but I simply haven’t had the time. I’ll do so very soon. Adieu.
1000 kisses
to Pimperl.
⁴

[
Leopold Mozart’s postscript
]

You must have received 2 letters from me and one from Nannerl. I still don’t know how Nannerl will get back and whether she can travel with Frau von Robinig; perhaps she’ll return with us. Farewell. We kiss you many 1, 000, 000 times. I am your old

Mozart

I’ve received all your letters.

Best wishes to everyone.

That the opera has been an all-round success you’ll have gathered from my last letter and from others that have arrived in Salzb. and you’ll soon be hearing it from Herr Gschwendtner even if you haven’t already done so. Just imagine how embarrassed His Grace was on hearing the opera praised by the whole of the elector’s family and the entire aristocracy and on receiving their most solemn congratulations.
¹
He was so embarrassed that he could answer only by nodding his head and shrugging his shoulders. We still haven’t spoken to him, as
he’s fully occupied receiving the good wishes of the nobility. He arrived at half past 6 in the evening, just as the main opera was starting, and went and sat in the elector’s box. It would take too long to describe the remaining ceremonies. The archbishop won’t be hearing Wolfg.’s
opera buffa
, as all the other days are taken and so it can be given only on a Friday, except that it can’t be this Friday as it’s the anniversary of the death of the emperor of Bavaria.
²
And who knows if it can be performed on the following Friday, the 27th, as the second soprano is very ill. I’m sorry that so many people have come from Salzburg more or less in vain, but at least they’ve seen the main opera. How amazed I was to see Herr von Antretter entering our building, and when I went to Albert’s
³
in the evening, he took us upstairs to a room where to my amazement I found Waberl Eberlin,
⁴
who had arrived only after the archbishop, in other words, only when the main opera was nearly over, as their rear axle had broken outside Munich. Neither you nor Nannerl had mentioned that Herr Gschwendtner was no longer able to bring her up here, but how shall I get her back without incurring considerable expense? – – – I’ve already read here the printed news about the masked balls in Salzb.

It’s not bad, I just hope they make lots of money.

Farewell, be patient, keep the rooms well locked, best wishes to Fräulein Mitzerl
⁵
and everyone else etc. etc. We still don’t know if the archbishop will leave the day after tomorrow or next Tuesday.
Addio
. We kiss you many 1, 000, 000 times. I am your old

Mozart

[
Mozart’s postscript to Nannerl
]

My dear sister,

How can I help it if it’s just struck a quarter past 7?––– Papa’s not to blame either – – Mama will hear more from my sister. This isn’t a good time to travel as the archbishop isn’t staying here for long – – it’s even being said that he’ll stay until he leaves. – – I’m only sorry that he won’t see the first masked ball. Best wishes to Baron Zemen and all our good friends. I kiss Mama’s hands. Farewell. I’ll fetch you in a moment. Your faithful

Franz of the Nosebleed

Milan, 5 May 1756

[
Leopold Mozart’s postscript
] Tell Frau Moshammer, who’s living with us, that Baron Gienger, about whom she enquired, was dismissed as a pageboy a year ago and is presumably now in Innsbruck. I think there’ll be a big concert in the Kaisersaal on Saturday and so the archbishop will presumably be staying on until Monday or Tuesday.