Mozart: A Life in Letters: A Life in Letters (36 page)

You’re thinking of taking her to Italy as a
prima donna
. Tell me, do you know a
prima donna
who has trodden the boards in Italy without having first performed many times in Germany? How many operas did Signora
Bernasconi
sing in Vienna – operas filled with the most extreme emotions and performed under the most watchful eye and guidance of Gluck and Calzabigi!
⁶
How many operas did
Mlle Teyber
sing in Vienna under Hasse’s guidance – and after lessons from the old singer and exceptionally famous actress
Signora Tesi
,
⁷
whom you saw at Prince Hildburghausen’s and whose blackamoor you kissed as a child!
⁸
How many times did
Mlle Schindler
⁹
appear on the Viennese stage after she had started her career in a private production on Baron Fries’s
¹⁰
country estate under the guidance of Hasse and Tesi and Metastasio! – – Did all these people risk exposing themselves to the Italian public? – – And how much patronage and how many powerful recommendations did they need before they could achieve their goal? – – Princes and counts recommended them; famous composers and poets vouched for their skill. And you want me to write to Lugiati; you want to write an opera for 50 ducats even though you know that the people of Verona have no money and never commission a new opera. I’m now to give thought to the Ascensa, even though Michele dall’Agata hasn’t even replied to my last 2 letters.
¹¹
Granted that Mlle Weber sings like a Gabrielli;
¹²
that
she has a
powerful enough voice
for the Italian theatres etc.; and that she looks like a
prima donna
etc. – but it’s absurd for you to vouch for her acting. There’s more to it than that; and old Hasse’s childish efforts, for all that they were well meant and motivated by a friendly love of humanity, ensured that Miss Davies
¹³
was banished for ever from the Italian stage as she was booed on the first night and her part given to de Amicis. Not just women but even men with stage experience quake at the thought of their first appearance in a foreign country. And do you think that’s all? – – By no means –
ci vuole il Posesso del Teatro
¹⁴
even in the case of a woman, and this applies to her dress, hairstyle, make-up etc.: but you know this yourself if only you’ll think about it – I know that a moment’s serious consideration will convince you that your idea, however well meant, needs
time
and
considerable preparation
and that a completely different course is necessary if this plan is to be carried out in the longer term. What impresario wouldn’t laugh if one were to recommend a girl of 16 or 17 who has never appeared on stage? – – Your suggestion– I can hardly write when I think about it – the suggestion that you should travel around with Herr
Weber
and, be it noted, his 2 daughters almost robbed me of my wits. My dearest son! How can you allow yourself even for a moment to be taken in by such an appalling idea? Your letter reads just like a novel. – – Could you really bring yourself to travel the world with strangers? To cast aside your reputation – your old parents, your dear sister? – To expose me to the mockery and ridicule of the prince and of
the whole town that loves you
? – Yes, to expose me to mockery and yourself to contempt as I’ve been obliged to tell everyone who asked me that you’ll be going to Paris; and finally you now want to set out at random with total strangers? No, it surely requires little forethought to put this idea from your mind. – In order that I may convince the two of you that you’re being overhasty, let me tell you that the time is now approaching when no one in his right mind could consider such a move. The situation is such that it is impossible to know where war may break
out as whole regiments are everywhere on the march or waiting in readiness.
¹⁵
– In Switzerland? – In Holland? – – But there’s not a soul there all summer; and in winter one can just about make enough in
Berne
and
Zurich
not to die of hunger, but there’s nothing anywhere else. And Holland now has other things to think about, apart from music, while Herr
Hummel
¹⁶
and your concert expenses will eat up half your income. And what will become of your reputation? – This is a matter for lesser lights, for second-rate composers, for scribblers, for a
Schwindl
, a
Zappa
, a
Ricci
etc.
¹⁷
Just name another great composer who’d deign to take such an abject step? – –
Be off with you to Paris!
And soon! Mix with great people –
aut Caesar aut nihil
¹⁸
– the mere idea of seeing Paris should have kept you from all these flighty ideas.
From Paris the fame and reputation of a man of great talent spread to the rest of the world, there the nobility treats people of genius with the greatest deference, respect and courtesy – there you’ll find an attractive lifestyle in remarkable contrast to the coarseness of our German courtiers and ladies, and you’ll become proficient in the French language
. As for the company of
Wendling
etc., you simply have no need of it. You’ve known them for a very long time, and didn’t your mother realize? Were you both blind? – No, I know what must have happened, you were taken in by them and she didn’t dare oppose you. I’m angry that you both lack the trust and honesty necessary to tell me these things candidly and in detail; it was exactly the same with the elector, although it was all bound to come out in the end. You wanted to spare me the annoyance, but in the end you’ve lumbered me with a whole pile of worries that have almost cost me my life. You know – and you have 1000 proofs of it – that God in His goodness has endowed me with sound common sense, that my
head is firmly screwed on and that I’ve often found a way out of the most confused situations, predicting and guessing a whole host of eventualities: what stopped you from asking for my advice and from always acting according to my wishes? My son, you should see me as your most honest friend rather than as a stern father. – Consider whether I have always treated you as a friend and served you as a servant serves his master, providing you with all possible support and helping you to enjoy all manner of honest and respectable pleasures, often at great inconvenience to myself. – – Presumably Herr
Wendling
will already have left! Although half dead, I’ve already managed to plan and arrange everything relating to your journey to Paris. Herr Arbauer, a well-known businessman from Augsburg and Frankfurt, is now with his German agent in Paris and will be remaining there throughout Lent, a letter will go off to him on the 23rd and on the same day I’ll send you detailed instructions on what you must do and approximately how much the journey may cost, and I’ll enclose an open letter that you must hand over on your arrival, as Herr Arbauer – who, I believe, was at your concert in Augsburg – will already have received news of your arrival. This beastly business has cost me more than one sleepless night. As soon as you receive this letter, I want you to write and tell me
how much money you have in hand
. I hope you can count for certain on the 200 florins. I was astonished when you wrote to say that you now plan to finish off the music for Monsieur Dejean at your convenience. – Haven’t you handed it over yet? And you were thinking of leaving on 15 Feb.? – And yet you went off on that jaunt to Kirchheim – and took Mlle
Weber
with you, so that you received less as the princess had 2 people to reward, a gift you’d otherwise have had just for yourself. It doesn’t matter – but, really, what if Herr
Wendling
were now to play a trick on you and Monsieur Dejean
were not to keep his word
as the whole idea was for you to wait and travel with them. Send me news by return so that I know how things stand. I now intend to tell you what you can do for
Mlle Weber
. Tell me, who are the people who give Italian lessons, – aren’t some of them old
maestri
, but mostly
old tenors
? Has Sgr Raaff heard
Mlle Weber
sing? Talk to him and ask him to hear her sing your arias;
by way of an excuse you can say that you want him to
hear some arias of your own composition
. In this way you can do your best for her, then speak to him alone privately afterwards. No matter how he may sing, he knows what he’s talking about – and if she can win him over, she’ll have won over all the impresarios in Italy who knew him as a great singer. Meanwhile she should find an opportunity to appear onstage in Mannheim: even if she’s not paid, it would be of use to her. That you take pleasure in helping the downtrodden is something you’ve inherited from your father: but above all you must think single-mindedly of the welfare of your parents, otherwise your soul will go to hell.

Remember me as you saw me when you left us,
standing wretchedly beside your carriage
; remember, too, that, although a sick man, I’d been up till 2 o’clock, doing your packing, and was at your carriage again at 6, seeing to everything for you – afflict me now if you can be so cruel! Win fame and
fortune
in Paris, then,
once you have some money
, you can go to Italy and receive invitations to write operas; it will be hard to achieve this by writing letters to impresarios, although I shall keep trying; then you can recommend Mlle
Weber
: one can do more in person! Write by the next post without fail. We kiss you both millions of times. I am your old and honest father and husband

Mzt

Herr Bullinger sends his best wishes.

Nannerl has wept her full share these last 2 days.

[
On the envelope
]

We’re in a state of real confusion here, the whole chapter met at court last Monday. There was amazing criticism of the prince
¹⁹
and a terrible row so that he’s no longer keeping an open table. But that’s the least of it. Vienna has informed the prince and chapter in Passau that on his death everything will move to Austria and a bishop will be appointed in Linz.
²⁰
A start will then be made on improving the
fortifications of the castle at
Oberhaus
and securing Passau. The archbishop already has worries of his own, regiments are on their way here from Italy and it’s feared that some will remain here. No money can be expected from the salt, so how will people be paid?
²¹
Perhaps we’ll see you sooner than expected, everything’s in a state of confusion. We’ll then travel to Italy together.

Addio.

Mama will go to Paris with Wolfg. so that you can arrange things properly.

My Dear Wife and Son,

Your letter of 7 Feb., enclosing the French aria,
¹
has arrived safely, just as you will have received my letter of the 12th, which was written in fear and anguish. I began a letter yesterday but I’m unable to finish it today: I’ll save it for another post day. The enclosed aria has allowed me to breathe a little more easily as it has again enabled me to see something by my dear Wolfgang, and something so excellent, moreover, that it convinced me that you must have been much put upon to prefer a dissolute existence to the fame that can be won in so famous and, to men of talent, so advantageous a city.

Everyone is right to say that people will like your works in Paris: and you yourself are convinced – as I am – that you’re capable of imitating all the different types of composition. That you didn’t travel with the company in question was undoubtedly a good thing: you long ago saw
the evil nature of these people
yet all the time that you were pursuing their
acquaintance
you didn’t trust your father, who cares so much about you, and didn’t write to him to ask him for his
advice: and – shockingly – your mother didn’t do so either. My son! You’re hot-headed and overhasty in everything you do! Your whole character has changed since your childhood and your years of boyhood. As a child and boy you were more serious than childish and whenever you sat at the keyboard or were otherwise occupied with music, no one was allowed to play even the slightest joke on you. Yes, the expression on your face was so serious that on seeing your premature talent and your grave and pensive expression many perceptive people in various countries were concerned that you wouldn’t reach a ripe old age. But it seems to me now that you are much too ready to respond to the first challenge by adopting a jocular tone – and this is the first step towards familiarity etc., a quality that no one should seek to acquire in this world if he wants to maintain his self-respect. If one has a kind heart, one is of course used to expressing oneself freely and naturally: but that is misguided. And it is very much your kind heart that blinds you to the failings of a person who praises you valiantly, holds you in high regard and lauds you to the skies, so that you offer that person all your trust and love: as a boy, by contrast, you were exaggeratedly modest and even burst into tears when people praised you too much. The greatest art is
to know oneself
and then, my dear son, do as I do and
apply yourself to getting to know other people properly
. You know that that was always my concern, and there is no doubt that it is a fine, useful and, indeed, necessary concern. As for
giving lessons
in Paris, you don’t need to worry about that.
First
, no one will dismiss his teacher at once and call on you instead.
Second
, no one would dare to do so, and you yourself would not take on anyone, except perhaps a lady
who already plays well and who wants to learn how to play with style
– that sort of work would be well paid: after all, wouldn’t you have gladly given Countess Lützow and Countess Lodron
²
2 or 3 lessons a week for 2 or 3 louis d’or a month, not least because these ladies are also making every effort to find subscribers for your works? In Paris, the
ladies do everything – they’re also great keyboard lovers, and many of them are excellent players. – These are the people for you: and these, too, are the works for them, as you can make your fame and fortune by publishing
keyboard works, string quartets
etc.,
symphonies
, not to mention a collection of good
French
arias with
keyboard
accompaniment, like the one you sent me, and, finally, operas. – How can you possibly object to that? – – But you want everything to be done at once, even before people have seen you or heard anything of yours. Read the long list of acquaintances we had in Paris – all of them – or at least most of them – are the leading people in the city, all of them will want to see you again: and even if only 6 of them were to champion your cause (and a single one would be enough), you can do whatever you like. I’ll arrange for the arias Mlle Weber asked for
³
to be copied and I’ll send you whatever I can find, but if they go by
mail coach
, they won’t reach you before the 23rd at the earliest. I’m enclosing two open letters of recommendation that you must keep safely and then give
to Herr Joseph Felix Arbauer
, one of the
leading
dealers in fancy goods
in Paris
. Monsieur Mayer is his agent. Count Wolfegg
⁴
used to live there. I’m sending an official letter today to Paris, it will contain all the details about accommodation etc., these letters are simply to explain that you are the people for whom these arrangements have been made. I must close. Nannerl and I kiss you 1, 000, 000 times. I am your faithful husband and father