August 19, 2025 • 13 mins
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is a name that resonates through the ages, a towering figure in the world of music whose genius continues to captivate audiences. From a tender age of 5, this child prodigy dazzled the world with his extraordinary talents, crafting masterpieces that remain unmatched. This collection of excerpts from his personal letters offers a fascinating glimpse into the mind of a musical legend. Was he simply mad, or was he a miraculous creator? Join us on a journey of discovery as we explore the thoughts and feelings of the boy wonder. (Summary by Aaron Elliott)
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Chapter fourteen of Mozart, The Man and the Artist, revealed
in his own words. This is a LibriVox recording. All
LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information
or to volunteer, please visit librivotx dot org. Mozart The
Man and the Artist, as Revealed in his own words
by Friedrich Kirst, translated by Henry Krebbel. Chapter fourteen, Love
(00:23):
and Friendship. Mozart's love for his father made him dependent
on the latter to the end of his days. He
was a model son and must have loved his wife devotedly,
since for her sake he once in his life disobeyed
his father. The majority of his letters which have been
preserved are addressed to his father, to whom he reported
all his happenings, and whose advice he is forever seeking.
(00:46):
Similar were his relations with his sister, Marianne Naneul, whom
he loved with great tenderness. The letters to his wife
are unique, all of them, even the last, seemed to
be the letters of a lover. They were a pair
of turtle doves. Mozart was an ideal friend, ready to
sacrifice to the uttermost on the altar of friendship. It
(01:06):
was this trait of character which made him throw himself
with enthusiasm into freemasonry, whose affiliations he sought to widen
by drafting the constitution of a community, which he called
the Grotto. He probably hated only one man in the world,
the Archbishop of Salzburg. His tormentor the moment you do
not trust me, I shall distrust myself. The time is pasted.
(01:27):
It is true when I used to stand on the settle,
sing Oranya figatafa and kiss the tip of your nose.
But have I therefore shown laxity in respect, love and obedience.
I say no more. Mannheim, February nineteenth, seventeen seventy nine,
to his father, who was vexed because Mozart was showing
a disposition to stay in Manheim because of a love
(01:49):
affair instead of going to Paris. Off with you to
Paris and soon, wrote the father. The Italian words are
meaningless and are but a bit of a child's play,
the nature of which can be gathered from most Sart's remark, pray,
do not let your mind often harbor the thought that
I shall ever forget you. It is intolerable to me.
My chief aim in life, has been, is, and will
(02:11):
be to strive so that we may soon be reunited
and happy. Reflect that you have a son who will
never consciously forget his filial duty towards you, and who
will labor ever to grow more worthy of so good
a father. Mannheim, February twenty eighth, seventeen seventy eight to
his father. The first thing I did after reading your
letter was to go on my knees and out of
(02:32):
a full heart, thank my dear God for this mercy.
Now I am again at peace, since I know that
I need no longer be concerned about the two persons
who are the dearest things on earth to me. Paris,
July thirty first, seventeen seventy eight, to his father, who
had written that he and Naneul had comforted each other
on the death of his mother. Dearest best of fathers,
(02:54):
I wish you all conceivable good Whatever can be wished
that I wish you, but no, I wish you nothing
but myself everything for myself. Then, I wish that you
remain well and live innumerable years to my great happiness
and pleasure. I wish that everything that I undertake may
agree with your desire and liking, or rather that I
may undertake nothing which might not turn out to your joy.
(03:17):
This also I hope, for whatever adds to the happiness
of your son must naturally be agreeable also to you. Vienna,
November sixteenth, seventeen eighty one, to his father, congratulating him
on his name day. On March seventeenth, seventeen seventy eight,
Mozart had written for Mannheim, your accuracy extends to all things.
(03:38):
Papa comes directly after God, was my maxim as a child,
and I shall stick to it. Our little cousin is
pretty sensible, amiable, clever and merry, all because she has
been in society. She visited Munich for a while. You
are right, we suit each other admirably, for she too
is a bit naughty. We play great pranks on the
people hereabouts. Augsburg, October seventeenth, seventeen seventy seven to his father.
(04:04):
The little cousin was two years younger than Mozart. Her
father was a master book binder in Augsburg. The maiden
seems later to have had serious designs on the composer.
I shall be right glad when I meet a place
in which there is a court. I tell you that
if I did not have so fine a mister cousin,
and a miscousin, and so dear a little cousin, my
regrets that I am in Augsburg would be as numerous
(04:25):
as the hairs of my head. Augsburg October seventeenth, seventeen
seventy seven, to his father, whose birthplace he was visiting
on a concert tour. Mozart was vexed at the insolence
of the patricians. In the case of Frau Long. I
was a fool, that's certain, But what is a fellow
not when he's in love. I did really love her,
(04:46):
and am not indifferent toward her. Even now. It's lucky
for me that her husband is a jealous fool and
never permits her to go anywhere, so that I seldom
see her. Bienna May twelfth, seventeen eighty one, to his
father at the time when he was being outrageously treated
by the archbishop forraw Long was Eloisa Baber, sister of Constance,
to whom Mozart transferred his love and whom he made
(05:08):
his wife. Eloisa married an actor at the court theater,
Joseph Long, with whom she lived unhappily. I will not
say that when at the house of Mademoiselle, to whom
I seem already to have been married off, I am
morose and silent, but neither am I in love. I
jest with her and amuse her when I have time,
which is only evenings when I sup at home, For
(05:30):
in the forenoons I write in my room, and in
the afternoons I am seldom at home. Only that and
nothing more. If I were obliged to marry all the
girls with whom I have justed, I should have at
least two hundred wives. Vienna July twenty fifth, seventeen eighty one,
to his father, who had heard all manner of tales
concerning the relations of Mozart and Constance Faber. My good
(05:51):
dear Constance is the martyr, and perhaps for that very reason,
the best hearted, cleverest, and in a word, the best
of them all. She assumes all the cares of the house,
and yet does not seem able to accomplish anything. Oh,
best of fathers, I could write pages if I were
to tell you all the scenes that have taken place
in this house because of us. Two. Constance is not ugly,
(06:12):
but anything but beautiful. All her beauty consists of two
little black eyes and a handsome figure. She is not witty,
but has enough common sense to be able to perform
her duties as wife and mother. She is not inclined
to finery that is utterly false. On the contrary, she
is generally ill clad. For the little that the mother
was able to do for her children was done for
(06:32):
the other two nothing for her true. She likes to
be neatly and cleanly, though not extravagantly dressed, and she
can herself make most of the clothes that a woman needs.
She also dresses her own hair every day, understands housekeeping,
has the best heart in the world. Tell me could
I wish a better wife? Vienna December fifteenth, seventeen eighty
(06:53):
one to his father, Constance seems to have been made
for Mozart. They went through the years of their brief
wedded life like two children. Dearest best of friends. Surely
you will let me call you that you cannot hate
me so greatly as not to permit me to be
your friend and yourself to become mine. And even if
you do not want to be my friend longer, you
(07:14):
cannot forbid me to think kindly of you, as I
have been in the habit of doing. Consider well what
you said to me to day. Despite my entreaties, you
gave me the mitten three times and told me to
my face that you would have nothing further to do
with me. I to whom it is not such a
matter of indifference as it is to you to lose
a sweetheart, am not so hot tempered, inconsiderate, or unwise
(07:35):
as to accept that mitten. I love you too dearly
for that. I therefore beg you to ponder on the
cause of your indignation. A little confession of your thoughtless
conduct would have made all well. If you do not
take it ill, dear friend, may still make all well
from this. You see how much I love you. I
do not flare up as you do. I think, I consider,
(07:56):
and I feel if you have any feeling, I am
sure that I will be able to say to myself
before night. Constance is the virtuous, honor, loving, sensible and
faithful sweetheart of just and well meaning Mozart Vienna April
twenty ninth, seventeen eighty two to his fiancee, Constance Faber.
She had played it a game of forfeits such as
was looked upon lightly by the frivolous society of the
(08:18):
period in Vienna. Mozart rebuked her, and she broke off
the engagement. The letter followed, and soon thereafter a reconciliation.
Mozart had said to her, no girl who is jealous
of her honor would do such a thing. She is
an honest, good girl of decent parents. I am able
to provide her with bread. We love each other and
want each other. It is better to put one's thoughts
(08:40):
to write and be an honest fellow. God will give
the reward. I do not want to have anything to
reproach myself with Vienna. July thirty first, seventeen eighty two,
to his father, who had given his consent hesitatingly and
unwillingly to the marriage of his son, who was twenty
six years old, on August seventh, Mozart wrote to him,
(09:01):
I kiss your hands and thank you with all the
tenderness which a son should feel for his father, for
your kind permission and paternal blessing. If I were to
tell you all the things that I do with your portrait,
you would laugh heartily. For instance, when I take it
out of its prison house, I say, God bless you
stand zarrol. God bless you, you little rascal, crawlerballer, sharp nose,
(09:22):
little bagatelle. And when I put it back, I let
it slip down slowly and gradually, and say nw nw
nw nw, but with the emphasis which this highly significant
word demands, and at the last, quickly good night, little mouse.
Sleep well. Now, I suppose I have written down a
lot of nonsense, at least so the world would think.
But for us, who love each other so tenderly, it
(09:44):
isn't altogether Silly Dresden April thirteenth, seventeen eighty nine, to
his wife in Vienna. Dear little wife, I have a
multitude of requests. First, I beg of you not to
be sad. Second, that you take care of your health
and do not trust this spring air. Third, that you
refrain from walking out alone, or better, do not walk
(10:05):
out at all. Fourth, that you rest assured of my love.
Not a letter have I written to you, but that
your portrait was placed in front of mine. Fifth, I
beg of you to consider not only my honor and
yours and your conduct, but also in appearances. Do not
get angry because of this request. You ought to love
me all the more because I make so much of honor. Dresden,
(10:26):
April sixteenth, seventeen eighty nine, to his wife in Vienna,
who was fond of life's pleasures. You cannot imagine how
slowly time goes when you are not with me. I
can't describe the feeling. There is a sort of sense
of emptiness which hurts, a certain longing which cannot be satisfied,
and hence never ends, but grows day by day. When
(10:46):
I remember how childishly merry we were in Baden, and
what mournful, tedious hours I pass here, my work gives
me no pleasure, because it is not possible, as my
wont to chat a few words with you when stopping
for a moment. If I go to the clavier and
sing something from the opera daizuperflout, I must stop at
once because of my emotions. Basta, Vienna, July seventh, seventeen
(11:11):
ninety one, to his wife, who was taking the waters
at Baden. I call only him or her a friend
who is a friend under all circumstances, who thinks day
or night of nothing else than to promote the welfare
of a friend, who urges all well to do friends,
and works himself to make the other person happy Kaisersheim
December eighteenth, seventeen seventy eight to his father. Mozart was
(11:34):
making the journey from Mannheim to Munich in the carriage
of a prelate. The parting with his Mannheim friends, especially
with Rau Kannebich, his motherly friend, was hard for me,
who never made a more painful parting than this. The
journey was only half pleasant. It would even have been
a bore if from childhood I had not been accustomed
to leave people, countries and cities. Permit me to beg
(11:57):
for a continuance of your precious friendship, and to ask
you to accept mine for now and forever with an
honest heart. I vow it to you everlastingly true. It
will be of little use to you, but it will
be the more durable and honest. For that reason. You
know that the best and truest of friends are the poor.
Rich people know nothing of friendship, especially those who are
(12:17):
born rich and those who have become rich fortuitously. They
are too often wrapped up completely in their own luck.
But there is nothing to fear from a man who
has been placed in advantageous circumstances, not through blind but
deserved good fortune through merit. A man who did not
lose courage because of his first failures, who remained true
to his religion and trust in God, was a good
(12:38):
Christian and an honest man, and cherished and valued his
true friend. In a word, a man who has deserved
better fortune from such a man, there is nothing to fear. Paris,
August seventh, seventeen seventy eight, to his friend Bullinger in Salzburg,
to whom he felt beholden for the gentle and considerate
way in which he had broken the news of his
mother's death to the family. My friend had I but
(13:02):
the money which many a man who does not deserve
it wastes so miserably. If I only had it, Oh,
with what joy would I not help you? But alas
those who can will not, and those who would lie
to cannot. Paris, July twenty ninth, seventeen seventy eight, to
Frieda len Weber, father of Constance. The letter was found
but recently among some Gerta autographs. End of chapter fourteen
Chapter fourteen of Mozart, The Man and the Artist, revealed
in his own words. This is a LibriVox recording. All
LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information
or to volunteer, please visit librivotx dot org. Mozart The
Man and the Artist, as Revealed in his own words
by Friedrich Kirst, translated by Henry Krebbel. Chapter fourteen, Love
(00:23):
and Friendship. Mozart's love for his father made him dependent
on the latter to the end of his days. He
was a model son and must have loved his wife devotedly,
since for her sake he once in his life disobeyed
his father. The majority of his letters which have been
preserved are addressed to his father, to whom he reported
all his happenings, and whose advice he is forever seeking.
(00:46):
Similar were his relations with his sister, Marianne Naneul, whom
he loved with great tenderness. The letters to his wife
are unique, all of them, even the last, seemed to
be the letters of a lover. They were a pair
of turtle doves. Mozart was an ideal friend, ready to
sacrifice to the uttermost on the altar of friendship. It
(01:06):
was this trait of character which made him throw himself
with enthusiasm into freemasonry, whose affiliations he sought to widen
by drafting the constitution of a community, which he called
the Grotto. He probably hated only one man in the world,
the Archbishop of Salzburg. His tormentor the moment you do
not trust me, I shall distrust myself. The time is pasted.
(01:27):
It is true when I used to stand on the settle,
sing Oranya figatafa and kiss the tip of your nose.
But have I therefore shown laxity in respect, love and obedience.
I say no more. Mannheim, February nineteenth, seventeen seventy nine,
to his father, who was vexed because Mozart was showing
a disposition to stay in Manheim because of a love
(01:49):
affair instead of going to Paris. Off with you to
Paris and soon, wrote the father. The Italian words are
meaningless and are but a bit of a child's play,
the nature of which can be gathered from most Sart's remark, pray,
do not let your mind often harbor the thought that
I shall ever forget you. It is intolerable to me.
My chief aim in life, has been, is, and will
(02:11):
be to strive so that we may soon be reunited
and happy. Reflect that you have a son who will
never consciously forget his filial duty towards you, and who
will labor ever to grow more worthy of so good
a father. Mannheim, February twenty eighth, seventeen seventy eight to
his father. The first thing I did after reading your
letter was to go on my knees and out of
(02:32):
a full heart, thank my dear God for this mercy.
Now I am again at peace, since I know that
I need no longer be concerned about the two persons
who are the dearest things on earth to me. Paris,
July thirty first, seventeen seventy eight, to his father, who
had written that he and Naneul had comforted each other
on the death of his mother. Dearest best of fathers,
(02:54):
I wish you all conceivable good Whatever can be wished
that I wish you, but no, I wish you nothing
but myself everything for myself. Then, I wish that you
remain well and live innumerable years to my great happiness
and pleasure. I wish that everything that I undertake may
agree with your desire and liking, or rather that I
may undertake nothing which might not turn out to your joy.
(03:17):
This also I hope, for whatever adds to the happiness
of your son must naturally be agreeable also to you. Vienna,
November sixteenth, seventeen eighty one, to his father, congratulating him
on his name day. On March seventeenth, seventeen seventy eight,
Mozart had written for Mannheim, your accuracy extends to all things.
(03:38):
Papa comes directly after God, was my maxim as a child,
and I shall stick to it. Our little cousin is
pretty sensible, amiable, clever and merry, all because she has
been in society. She visited Munich for a while. You
are right, we suit each other admirably, for she too
is a bit naughty. We play great pranks on the
people hereabouts. Augsburg, October seventeenth, seventeen seventy seven to his father.
(04:04):
The little cousin was two years younger than Mozart. Her
father was a master book binder in Augsburg. The maiden
seems later to have had serious designs on the composer.
I shall be right glad when I meet a place
in which there is a court. I tell you that
if I did not have so fine a mister cousin,
and a miscousin, and so dear a little cousin, my
regrets that I am in Augsburg would be as numerous
(04:25):
as the hairs of my head. Augsburg October seventeenth, seventeen
seventy seven, to his father, whose birthplace he was visiting
on a concert tour. Mozart was vexed at the insolence
of the patricians. In the case of Frau Long. I
was a fool, that's certain, But what is a fellow
not when he's in love. I did really love her,
(04:46):
and am not indifferent toward her. Even now. It's lucky
for me that her husband is a jealous fool and
never permits her to go anywhere, so that I seldom
see her. Bienna May twelfth, seventeen eighty one, to his
father at the time when he was being outrageously treated
by the archbishop forraw Long was Eloisa Baber, sister of Constance,
to whom Mozart transferred his love and whom he made
(05:08):
his wife. Eloisa married an actor at the court theater,
Joseph Long, with whom she lived unhappily. I will not
say that when at the house of Mademoiselle, to whom
I seem already to have been married off, I am
morose and silent, but neither am I in love. I
jest with her and amuse her when I have time,
which is only evenings when I sup at home, For
(05:30):
in the forenoons I write in my room, and in
the afternoons I am seldom at home. Only that and
nothing more. If I were obliged to marry all the
girls with whom I have justed, I should have at
least two hundred wives. Vienna July twenty fifth, seventeen eighty one,
to his father, who had heard all manner of tales
concerning the relations of Mozart and Constance Faber. My good
(05:51):
dear Constance is the martyr, and perhaps for that very reason,
the best hearted, cleverest, and in a word, the best
of them all. She assumes all the cares of the house,
and yet does not seem able to accomplish anything. Oh,
best of fathers, I could write pages if I were
to tell you all the scenes that have taken place
in this house because of us. Two. Constance is not ugly,
(06:12):
but anything but beautiful. All her beauty consists of two
little black eyes and a handsome figure. She is not witty,
but has enough common sense to be able to perform
her duties as wife and mother. She is not inclined
to finery that is utterly false. On the contrary, she
is generally ill clad. For the little that the mother
was able to do for her children was done for
(06:32):
the other two nothing for her true. She likes to
be neatly and cleanly, though not extravagantly dressed, and she
can herself make most of the clothes that a woman needs.
She also dresses her own hair every day, understands housekeeping,
has the best heart in the world. Tell me could
I wish a better wife? Vienna December fifteenth, seventeen eighty
(06:53):
one to his father, Constance seems to have been made
for Mozart. They went through the years of their brief
wedded life like two children. Dearest best of friends. Surely
you will let me call you that you cannot hate
me so greatly as not to permit me to be
your friend and yourself to become mine. And even if
you do not want to be my friend longer, you
(07:14):
cannot forbid me to think kindly of you, as I
have been in the habit of doing. Consider well what
you said to me to day. Despite my entreaties, you
gave me the mitten three times and told me to
my face that you would have nothing further to do
with me. I to whom it is not such a
matter of indifference as it is to you to lose
a sweetheart, am not so hot tempered, inconsiderate, or unwise
(07:35):
as to accept that mitten. I love you too dearly
for that. I therefore beg you to ponder on the
cause of your indignation. A little confession of your thoughtless
conduct would have made all well. If you do not
take it ill, dear friend, may still make all well
from this. You see how much I love you. I
do not flare up as you do. I think, I consider,
(07:56):
and I feel if you have any feeling, I am
sure that I will be able to say to myself
before night. Constance is the virtuous, honor, loving, sensible and
faithful sweetheart of just and well meaning Mozart Vienna April
twenty ninth, seventeen eighty two to his fiancee, Constance Faber.
She had played it a game of forfeits such as
was looked upon lightly by the frivolous society of the
(08:18):
period in Vienna. Mozart rebuked her, and she broke off
the engagement. The letter followed, and soon thereafter a reconciliation.
Mozart had said to her, no girl who is jealous
of her honor would do such a thing. She is
an honest, good girl of decent parents. I am able
to provide her with bread. We love each other and
want each other. It is better to put one's thoughts
(08:40):
to write and be an honest fellow. God will give
the reward. I do not want to have anything to
reproach myself with Vienna. July thirty first, seventeen eighty two,
to his father, who had given his consent hesitatingly and
unwillingly to the marriage of his son, who was twenty
six years old, on August seventh, Mozart wrote to him,
(09:01):
I kiss your hands and thank you with all the
tenderness which a son should feel for his father, for
your kind permission and paternal blessing. If I were to
tell you all the things that I do with your portrait,
you would laugh heartily. For instance, when I take it
out of its prison house, I say, God bless you
stand zarrol. God bless you, you little rascal, crawlerballer, sharp nose,
(09:22):
little bagatelle. And when I put it back, I let
it slip down slowly and gradually, and say nw nw
nw nw, but with the emphasis which this highly significant
word demands, and at the last, quickly good night, little mouse.
Sleep well. Now, I suppose I have written down a
lot of nonsense, at least so the world would think.
But for us, who love each other so tenderly, it
(09:44):
isn't altogether Silly Dresden April thirteenth, seventeen eighty nine, to
his wife in Vienna. Dear little wife, I have a
multitude of requests. First, I beg of you not to
be sad. Second, that you take care of your health
and do not trust this spring air. Third, that you
refrain from walking out alone, or better, do not walk
(10:05):
out at all. Fourth, that you rest assured of my love.
Not a letter have I written to you, but that
your portrait was placed in front of mine. Fifth, I
beg of you to consider not only my honor and
yours and your conduct, but also in appearances. Do not
get angry because of this request. You ought to love
me all the more because I make so much of honor. Dresden,
(10:26):
April sixteenth, seventeen eighty nine, to his wife in Vienna,
who was fond of life's pleasures. You cannot imagine how
slowly time goes when you are not with me. I
can't describe the feeling. There is a sort of sense
of emptiness which hurts, a certain longing which cannot be satisfied,
and hence never ends, but grows day by day. When
(10:46):
I remember how childishly merry we were in Baden, and
what mournful, tedious hours I pass here, my work gives
me no pleasure, because it is not possible, as my
wont to chat a few words with you when stopping
for a moment. If I go to the clavier and
sing something from the opera daizuperflout, I must stop at
once because of my emotions. Basta, Vienna, July seventh, seventeen
(11:11):
ninety one, to his wife, who was taking the waters
at Baden. I call only him or her a friend
who is a friend under all circumstances, who thinks day
or night of nothing else than to promote the welfare
of a friend, who urges all well to do friends,
and works himself to make the other person happy Kaisersheim
December eighteenth, seventeen seventy eight to his father. Mozart was
(11:34):
making the journey from Mannheim to Munich in the carriage
of a prelate. The parting with his Mannheim friends, especially
with Rau Kannebich, his motherly friend, was hard for me,
who never made a more painful parting than this. The
journey was only half pleasant. It would even have been
a bore if from childhood I had not been accustomed
to leave people, countries and cities. Permit me to beg
(11:57):
for a continuance of your precious friendship, and to ask
you to accept mine for now and forever with an
honest heart. I vow it to you everlastingly true. It
will be of little use to you, but it will
be the more durable and honest. For that reason. You
know that the best and truest of friends are the poor.
Rich people know nothing of friendship, especially those who are
(12:17):
born rich and those who have become rich fortuitously. They
are too often wrapped up completely in their own luck.
But there is nothing to fear from a man who
has been placed in advantageous circumstances, not through blind but
deserved good fortune through merit. A man who did not
lose courage because of his first failures, who remained true
to his religion and trust in God, was a good
(12:38):
Christian and an honest man, and cherished and valued his
true friend. In a word, a man who has deserved
better fortune from such a man, there is nothing to fear. Paris,
August seventh, seventeen seventy eight, to his friend Bullinger in Salzburg,
to whom he felt beholden for the gentle and considerate
way in which he had broken the news of his
mother's death to the family. My friend had I but
(13:02):
the money which many a man who does not deserve
it wastes so miserably. If I only had it, Oh,
with what joy would I not help you? But alas
those who can will not, and those who would lie
to cannot. Paris, July twenty ninth, seventeen seventy eight, to
Frieda len Weber, father of Constance. The letter was found
but recently among some Gerta autographs. End of chapter fourteen
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Law & Order: Criminal Justice System - Season 1 & Season 2
Season Two Out Now! Law & Order: Criminal Justice System tells the real stories behind the landmark cases that have shaped how the most dangerous and influential criminals in America are prosecuted. In its second season, the series tackles the threat of terrorism in the United States. From the rise of extremist political groups in the 60s to domestic lone wolves in the modern day, we explore how organizations like the FBI and Joint Terrorism Take Force have evolved to fight back against a multitude of terrorist threats.