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 fifteen of Mozart The Man and the Artist, as
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 LibriVox dot org. Mozart
The Man and the Artist, as Revealed in his own
words by Friedrich Hirst, translated by Henry Krebel. Chapter fifteen,
(00:24):
Worldly Wisdom. Mozart's father brought him up to be worldly wise.
While journeying at a tender age through the world with
his father, the lad became an eye witness of the
paternal business management, with all its attention to detail, the
art of utilizing persons and conditions in order to achieve
material results. As a youth, he repeats the journeys accompanied
(00:46):
by his mother, whom he loses by death in Paris.
Regularly from Salzburg, his father sends him letters full of
admonitions and advice, the subjects almost systematically grouped. The worldly
wisdom of the son is the fruit of paternal education,
which he did not outgrow up to the day of
his death, but life experience was also an educator. A
(01:08):
seeming distrust of mankind speaks out of many a passage
in his letters. But on the whole he thought too
well of his fellow men, and remained blind to the
faults of his false friends, who basely exploited him for
their own ends. Although gifted with keen powers of observation,
he always followed his kind heart instead of his better judgment.
And his sister spoke no more than the truth when
(01:29):
she said after his death, outside of music, he was
and remained nearly always a child. This was the chief
trait of his character. On its shady side, he always
needed a father, mother, or other guardian. Reflect too on
this only too certain truth. It is not always wise
to do all the things contemplated. One often thinks one
(01:49):
thing would be most advisable and another unadvisable and bad,
when if it were done, the opposite results would disclose themselves.
Mannheim December tenth seven, eighteen seventy seven, to his father,
when a plan for an appointment in Manheim came to nought.
I am not indifferent, but only resolved, and therefore I
can endure everything with patience, provided only that neither my
(02:13):
honor nor the good name of Mozart shall suffer therefrom well.
Since it must be so, So be it only I beg.
Do not rejoice or sorrow prematurely, for let happen what may.
It will be all right, so long as we remain well.
Happiness exists only in the imagination. Manheim, November twenty ninth,
seventeen seventy seven, to his father, who had upbraided him
(02:35):
because of his reckless expenditures at the time, Mozart was
hoping for an appointment at Manheim. Dearest and best of fathers,
you shall see that things go better and better with me.
What use is this perpetual turmoil, this hurried fortune. It
does not endure. Chevap Piano va Sano. One must adjust
himself to circumstances. Vienna, December twenty second, seventeen eighty one,
(02:59):
to his father, just before Mozart's marriage engagement to Constance Faber.
Now to put your mind at ease. I am doing
nothing without reasons, and well founded ones too, Vienna, October
twenty first, seventeen eighty one, to his little cousin, who
may still have cherished hopes of capturing her married kinsmen,
I have no news except that thirty five, fifty nine,
(03:21):
sixty sixty one and sixty two were the winning numbers
in the lottery, and therefore that if we had played
those numbers, we would have won, but that insomuch as
we did not play those numbers, we neither won nor lost,
but had a good laugh at others. Milan, October twenty sixth,
seventeen seventy one, to his sister. Everybody was extremely courteous,
(03:41):
and therefore I was also very courteous, For it is
my custom to conduct myself towards others as they conduct
themselves towards me. It's the best way to get along. Augsburg,
October fourteenth, seventeen seventy seven, to his father in Vienna
and all the Imperial hereditaments. The theaters will all own
open in six weeks. It is wisely designed for the
(04:03):
dead are not so much benefited by the long morning,
as many people are harmed. Munich, December thirteenth, seventeen eighty
to his father. Empress Maria Theresa had died on November
twenty ninth. Mozart had greatly revered her from his youth. Nevertheless,
he takes a practical view of the situation. Since the
production of his opera I Domenio is eminent. He requests
(04:25):
of his father to have his black coat thoroughly dusted, cleaned,
and put to rights, and descend it to him, since
everybody will go into mourning, and I, who will be
summoned hither and thither, must weep along with the others.
Rest assured that I am a changed man. Outside of
my health, I know of nothing more necessary than money.
I am certainly not a miser. It would be difficult
for me to change myself into one. And yet the
(04:47):
people here think me more disposed to be stingy than prodigal.
And for a beginning, that will suffice so far as
pupils are concerned. I can have as many as I want,
but I do not want many. I want better pay
than the other, and therefore I am content with fewer.
One must put on a few airs at the beginning,
or one is lost. I e. One must travel the
common road with the many. Vienna, May twenty six, seventeen
(05:11):
eighty one to his father. Depend confidently on me. I
am no longer a fool, and you will still less
believe that I am a wicked and ungrateful son. Meanwhile,
trust my brains and my good heart implicitly, and you
shall never be sorry. How should I have learned to
value money? I never had enough of it in my hands.
I remember that once, when I had twenty ducats, I
(05:32):
thought myself rich. Need alone teaches the value of money.
Vienna May twenty sixth, seventeen eighty one to his father.
If it were possible that it should vex me, I
should do my best not to notice it as it is.
Thank God, there is no need of my deceiving myself,
because only the opposite could vex me, and I should
have had to decline, which is always too bad when
(05:54):
one is dealing with a grand gentleman. Vienna, October fifth,
seventeen eighty two, to his Mozart had expected to give
music lessons to a princess, but another teacher was chosen.
Continuing in the same letter, he says, I need only
tell you his fee, and you will easily be able
to judge from it the strength of the master four
hundred florins. His name is Summerer. I shall compose an opera,
(06:19):
but not an order for the sake of one hundred
diiccats to see the theater earn four times as much
in a fortnight. I shall perform my opera at my
own cost and make at least twelve hundred florins in
three performances. Then the director can have the work for
fifty ducats if he does not want it. I shall
have received my pay and can utilize the opera elsewhere.
I hope that you never have observed a tendency to
(06:40):
dishonest dealing in me. One ought not to be a
bad fellow, but neither ought one to be a stupid
who is willing to let others benefit from the work
which cost him study, care, and labor, and surrender all
claims for the future. Vienna, October fifth, seventeen eighty two
to his father. Mozart's plans for exploiting his opera were
never realized. Yesterday I dined with the Countess then, and
(07:03):
tomorrow I shall dine with her again. I let her
hear all that was complete. She told me that she
would wager her life that everything I have written up
to that date would please. In such matters, I care
nothing for the praise or censure of anybody until the
whole work has been seen or heard. Instead, I follow
my own judgment and feelings. Vienna, August eighth, seventeen eighty
(07:23):
one to his father. The opera in question was Dientiferon
aus de'm serrel. Magnanimity and gentleness have often reconciled the
worst enemies. Vienna, July eighth, seventeen ninety one to his wife,
who had somewhat rudely repulsed the advances of one of
the visitors at Badon, where she was taking the waters.
(07:44):
End of chapter fifteen.
Chapter fifteen of Mozart The Man and the Artist, as
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 LibriVox dot org. Mozart
The Man and the Artist, as Revealed in his own
words by Friedrich Hirst, translated by Henry Krebel. Chapter fifteen,
(00:24):
Worldly Wisdom. Mozart's father brought him up to be worldly wise.
While journeying at a tender age through the world with
his father, the lad became an eye witness of the
paternal business management, with all its attention to detail, the
art of utilizing persons and conditions in order to achieve
material results. As a youth, he repeats the journeys accompanied
(00:46):
by his mother, whom he loses by death in Paris.
Regularly from Salzburg, his father sends him letters full of
admonitions and advice, the subjects almost systematically grouped. The worldly
wisdom of the son is the fruit of paternal education,
which he did not outgrow up to the day of
his death, but life experience was also an educator. A
(01:08):
seeming distrust of mankind speaks out of many a passage
in his letters. But on the whole he thought too
well of his fellow men, and remained blind to the
faults of his false friends, who basely exploited him for
their own ends. Although gifted with keen powers of observation,
he always followed his kind heart instead of his better judgment.
And his sister spoke no more than the truth when
(01:29):
she said after his death, outside of music, he was
and remained nearly always a child. This was the chief
trait of his character. On its shady side, he always
needed a father, mother, or other guardian. Reflect too on
this only too certain truth. It is not always wise
to do all the things contemplated. One often thinks one
(01:49):
thing would be most advisable and another unadvisable and bad,
when if it were done, the opposite results would disclose themselves.
Mannheim December tenth seven, eighteen seventy seven, to his father,
when a plan for an appointment in Manheim came to nought.
I am not indifferent, but only resolved, and therefore I
can endure everything with patience, provided only that neither my
(02:13):
honor nor the good name of Mozart shall suffer therefrom well.
Since it must be so, So be it only I beg.
Do not rejoice or sorrow prematurely, for let happen what may.
It will be all right, so long as we remain well.
Happiness exists only in the imagination. Manheim, November twenty ninth,
seventeen seventy seven, to his father, who had upbraided him
(02:35):
because of his reckless expenditures at the time, Mozart was
hoping for an appointment at Manheim. Dearest and best of fathers,
you shall see that things go better and better with me.
What use is this perpetual turmoil, this hurried fortune. It
does not endure. Chevap Piano va Sano. One must adjust
himself to circumstances. Vienna, December twenty second, seventeen eighty one,
(02:59):
to his father, just before Mozart's marriage engagement to Constance Faber.
Now to put your mind at ease. I am doing
nothing without reasons, and well founded ones too, Vienna, October
twenty first, seventeen eighty one, to his little cousin, who
may still have cherished hopes of capturing her married kinsmen,
I have no news except that thirty five, fifty nine,
(03:21):
sixty sixty one and sixty two were the winning numbers
in the lottery, and therefore that if we had played
those numbers, we would have won, but that insomuch as
we did not play those numbers, we neither won nor lost,
but had a good laugh at others. Milan, October twenty sixth,
seventeen seventy one, to his sister. Everybody was extremely courteous,
(03:41):
and therefore I was also very courteous, For it is
my custom to conduct myself towards others as they conduct
themselves towards me. It's the best way to get along. Augsburg,
October fourteenth, seventeen seventy seven, to his father in Vienna
and all the Imperial hereditaments. The theaters will all own
open in six weeks. It is wisely designed for the
(04:03):
dead are not so much benefited by the long morning,
as many people are harmed. Munich, December thirteenth, seventeen eighty
to his father. Empress Maria Theresa had died on November
twenty ninth. Mozart had greatly revered her from his youth. Nevertheless,
he takes a practical view of the situation. Since the
production of his opera I Domenio is eminent. He requests
(04:25):
of his father to have his black coat thoroughly dusted, cleaned,
and put to rights, and descend it to him, since
everybody will go into mourning, and I, who will be
summoned hither and thither, must weep along with the others.
Rest assured that I am a changed man. Outside of
my health, I know of nothing more necessary than money.
I am certainly not a miser. It would be difficult
for me to change myself into one. And yet the
(04:47):
people here think me more disposed to be stingy than prodigal.
And for a beginning, that will suffice so far as
pupils are concerned. I can have as many as I want,
but I do not want many. I want better pay
than the other, and therefore I am content with fewer.
One must put on a few airs at the beginning,
or one is lost. I e. One must travel the
common road with the many. Vienna, May twenty six, seventeen
(05:11):
eighty one to his father. Depend confidently on me. I
am no longer a fool, and you will still less
believe that I am a wicked and ungrateful son. Meanwhile,
trust my brains and my good heart implicitly, and you
shall never be sorry. How should I have learned to
value money? I never had enough of it in my hands.
I remember that once, when I had twenty ducats, I
(05:32):
thought myself rich. Need alone teaches the value of money.
Vienna May twenty sixth, seventeen eighty one to his father.
If it were possible that it should vex me, I
should do my best not to notice it as it is.
Thank God, there is no need of my deceiving myself,
because only the opposite could vex me, and I should
have had to decline, which is always too bad when
(05:54):
one is dealing with a grand gentleman. Vienna, October fifth,
seventeen eighty two, to his Mozart had expected to give
music lessons to a princess, but another teacher was chosen.
Continuing in the same letter, he says, I need only
tell you his fee, and you will easily be able
to judge from it the strength of the master four
hundred florins. His name is Summerer. I shall compose an opera,
(06:19):
but not an order for the sake of one hundred
diiccats to see the theater earn four times as much
in a fortnight. I shall perform my opera at my
own cost and make at least twelve hundred florins in
three performances. Then the director can have the work for
fifty ducats if he does not want it. I shall
have received my pay and can utilize the opera elsewhere.
I hope that you never have observed a tendency to
(06:40):
dishonest dealing in me. One ought not to be a
bad fellow, but neither ought one to be a stupid
who is willing to let others benefit from the work
which cost him study, care, and labor, and surrender all
claims for the future. Vienna, October fifth, seventeen eighty two
to his father. Mozart's plans for exploiting his opera were
never realized. Yesterday I dined with the Countess then, and
(07:03):
tomorrow I shall dine with her again. I let her
hear all that was complete. She told me that she
would wager her life that everything I have written up
to that date would please. In such matters, I care
nothing for the praise or censure of anybody until the
whole work has been seen or heard. Instead, I follow
my own judgment and feelings. Vienna, August eighth, seventeen eighty
(07:23):
one to his father. The opera in question was Dientiferon
aus de'm serrel. Magnanimity and gentleness have often reconciled the
worst enemies. Vienna, July eighth, seventeen ninety one to his wife,
who had somewhat rudely repulsed the advances of one of
the visitors at Badon, where she was taking the waters.
(07:44):
End of chapter fifteen.
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