– you must await the outcome, and no amount of speculation will help you here. Whether anything happens or not, you can’t leave Paris at present, whereas if nothing happens, you must remain in Paris in order to survive – for where else could you go? – At all events it’s good that Count Sickingen has offered to find you a post in Mainz – but you mustn’t imagine that it’s certain, you must understand that it means only that he’ll try to find you a post. Whether he succeeds is another matter. There’s an old Kapellmeister in Mainz, Herr Schmid, who no longer does anything. Kreusser couldn’t have gone to Mainz at a better time, as the concertmaster, Jacobi, had just died.7 People liked his symphonies, which are easy to listen to, and so he was made concertmaster straightaway. He’s now studying for the post of Kapellmeister; he’s universally popular and in time will apply for this position.
I can’t forgive you for not having gone to Mainz during such a lengthy stay in Mannheim. If you examine the matter impartially, you’ll have to admit that you’ve rarely heeded my advice and acted as I prescribed. A visit to Mainz would have been of more use to you than that disastrous trip to Kirchheimbolanden, Mainz is a court, after all, with certain prospects, where we’ve many acquaintances among the nobility, as well as other friends. So you see that at present all your thoughts must be directed solely at supporting yourself in Paris. As for Mannheim, Mainz and Salzburg, you must wait and not depend on mere empty dreams that serve no useful purpose except to render you incapable of dealing with the most pressing concerns of the moment, at all events nothing happens except that which eternal providence has decreed for us as long as we seize the necessary means and do not harm our present situation by constantly thinking about things that are necessarily still very far off. In Mannheim or, rather, in Munich, where the court will be moving at the end of this month, there’s unlikely to be much to do, unless they decide to cast round for a composer for the German opera and if Raaff and Cannabich recommend you. Wendling is your friend, but I don’t know if your acquaintance with the Webers has robbed you of the goodwill of the Wendling household. Singers invariably hate each other. Mainz doesn’t pay very well, but Mainz has the same advantage as Salzburg, namely, that it won’t die with the death of the prince. – Mannheim is on a less secure footing. Salzburg– assuming one’s properly paid – has the advantage over Mainz that church music in particular is more magnificent – and the town is closer to Italy. I’ve already told you that people would like to see you back here again, and that, although I refused to be drawn, they went on at me until finally, following Lolli’s8 death, I was obliged to tell the countess9 that I’d handed in a petition to the archbishop in which I said only that I commended myself to His Grace after so many years of uncomplaining service etc. The conversation finally turned to you – I told her quite plainly what was needed, just as I’d told Count Starhemberg. Finally she asked me if you’d come back on condition that the archb. paid me Lolli’s salary and gave you Adlgasser’s,10 which – as I’d already worked this out in advance – would come to 1000 florins a year in total, I could say only that I was in no doubt that, if this came about, you’d accept out of your love of me, especially when she added that there was no doubt whatsoever that the archbishop would allow you to go to Italy every other year, as he himself has always insisted that from time to time one needs to hear different things and that he’d provide you with some good letters of recommendation. If this comes about, I can reckon with some certainty on our having an assured income of at least 115 florins a month and, as things stand at present, more than 120 florins a month. Not to mention what I make from the sales of my violin method, which at a conservative estimate brings in 50 florins a year, and without taking account of what your sister earns, which is at present 10 florins a month, which is enough to clothe her, as she is teaching the countess’s11 2 little daughters, whom she sees every day, while I teach the 2 bigger ones. This doesn’t include any additional fees that you could earn for yourself, because although you can’t count on it here, you know that you’ve earned the occasional extra fee, and in that way we’d be better off than anywhere else, where it’s twice as expensive, and if you don’t have to keep such a close eye on your money, you can start to enjoy yourself. But the main point is that I’m not counting on all this as I know how difficult it is for the prince to reach such a decision. That the countess is entirely serious, however, and that there’s nothing she wants more is beyond doubt. And it’s also true that old Arco, Count Starhemberg and the bishop of Königgrätz also want to bring this about in a dignified manner – and, as with all things, they have their reasons: as I’ve told you a thousand times, the countess is afraid, no less than old Arco, that I too may leave. They’ve no one to teach keyboard; I have the reputation of being a good teacher, and the proof of this is at hand. They don’t know if and when they’ll get anyone else: and if someone were to come from Vienna, will he give 12 lessons for 4 florins or 1 ducat, when one pays 2 or 3 ducats elsewhere? – – This has placed them all in a predicament. But, as I’ve said, I’m not counting on it as I know the archbishop even though it’s clear that deep in his heart he would like to have you, he’s incapable of reaching a decision, especially when it involves giving. The plan that you’ve always had in mind would certainly be furthered by this means, as a visit to Italy or the favourable circumstances here could do a lot. You continue to harp on the difficulties faced by the Webers. But tell me, how could it ever enter the head of any sensible person to think that it had to be you who’s uniquely capable of helping these people to find fame and fortune? You must gradually have come to realize – or at least I hope so – how much money a single person needs to live a reputable life. This is the case with you now, – since 23 Sept. of last year, there were 2 of you – your late mother and you – whom, in order to equip for your journey and provide with travelling expenses, I had to support with 300 florins, followed by a further 200 florins in Mannheim. That makes 500 florins, which I owe for this reaso alone. You’re now on your own – don’t you have to struggle to survive from one day to the next? And is that enough? – – Shouldn’t you try to save some money in case of emergencies? Suppose – God forbid – that you fell ill and had no savings – what would you do then? – – Wouldn’t you be abandoned to your misery? – Wouldn’t you be obliged to rely on the mercy and compassion of kind-hearted people? – – And where are these kind-hearted people? If, in health of body, you already have enough to do to provide for yourself as a single person, while making friends and prosecuting your plans, what sort of pitiful plight can someone expect who is prevented by illness or some other indisposition, however slight, from earning any money and dealing with his affairs? If he doesn’t have a ready supply of money in his purse, he’ll be abandoned there and then by the world – his few friends will gradually withdraw – and the one friend who may remain will find himself in the situation of being able to demonstrate his friendship only in words but of not being able to do anything practical as he himself is poor. – And are we poor people safe from being struck down by some indisposition? – – Don’t you have before you the sad example of your own dearly departed mother and of the hundreds of people around you who are healthy today but sick tomorrow? Just think whether, in all the time you’ve been away, you have a single friend who had the strength to do anything for you? – You yourself told me on one occasion that you had very many good friends who were not, however, in a position to do anything for you. There are plenty such friends, who can express only pious wishes and make empty suggestions. If one accepts each such wish and suggestion as though it were uniquely true, one will only be disappointed. I beg you to take pity on yourself and your poor father, see to your present needs and don’t expose me to the risk of becoming an object of mockery and ridicule here. As far as possible, an effort may be made to help Mlle Weber and in due course to achieve everything else you want, but are our resources really sufficient to assist a family with 6 children? Who can do this? – I? – You? – When we can’t ev
en help ourselves! How can you help others before you’ve helped yourself? You write – dearest father! I commend them to you with all my heart. If only they could enjoy 1000 florins for even a few years. My dearest son! When I read that, am I not bound to fear for your sanity? – In God’s name, you expect me to help them out with 1000 florins for a number of years? – Even if I could do so, I’d first help you and me and your dear sister, who’s already 27 years old and isn’t provided for, while I’m already old. Where are the courts, where is there a single court at present that will give a singer 1000 florins? – In Munich they get 5–6 or at most 700 florins, and do you really imagine that someone’s going to give 1000 florins straightaway to a young person who’s regarded as a beginner? – – You’ll never find this even if you think about it day and night and imagine it already half done or very easy to arrange, especially since, as you’re always hearing and seeing for yourself, one must first make a name for oneself or become famous before one can take bigger steps and find fame and fortune in the world. Even if you spend the whole day thinking about it and imagine that a hundred thousand things are possible, not only will the thing itself not come to pass but, unless you turn your present situation to your own profit and advantage, you’ll spend your time being wholly ineffectual, remaining unknown and poor, ruining the pair of us and helping no one. All that you should do is to write to Cannabich and Raaff and ask them to propose you to the elector and Seeau as a composer for the German opera. Count Sickingen should write a similar letter to Baron Gemmingen and other correspondents, you should also write a letter in French to the imperial ambassador, Baron Lehrbach. Baron Grimm could draft it for you. In short! You must write to all the people who may have any influence on the elector, for German operas will always be performed in Munich in future. The opera by Wieland and Schweitzer12 will be given on 4 November, St Charles’s Day, and will presumably continue throughout the carnival. I’ll also make my approaches to Count Seeau from here. Even if you were to get only 600 florins. One has to make a name for oneself. When did Gluck – and Piccinni – and all the others first come to prominence? – Gluck must now be 60, and it’s only 26 or 27 years since people first started to talk about him, and you expect the French public, or even just the theatre managers, to be convinced of your skills as a composer even before they’ve heard a note of your music and know of you only from your childhood as an outstanding keyboard player and a genius of the front rank? In the meantime you must make every effort to get on and be able to prove your abilities as a composer in all the different genres – and for this you must seek out opportunities to do so and be tireless in looking for friends, spurring them on, leaving them no peace and, if they show signs of tiring, encouraging them to redouble their efforts, while never believing that they have already done what they said they would do; I’d have written to Monsieur de Noverre long ago if I’d known his title and address. Meanwhile I and your friends will do what we can about Munich. Like my own, your thoughts and worries about Herr Weber are futile until your own situation has improved, and to this you must now turn your attention: only when you’re in credit or have a good position will your concern and help have any more force and prove effective, for the present you’ll only dissipate your energies, while harming yourself and not being able to help them.
Your sister and I kiss you a million times with all our hearts, she was unable to write as I’ve written too much. So until next time. In God’s name, look after your health, otherwise we’ll both perish. I’m your true friend and honest father
Mzt
A note on the war! As Prince Heinrich failed to advance at Komotau in Bohemia, he retreated to Pirnau near Dresden and attacked from above near Rumburg, Tollenstein, Zwickau and Leipa. Laudon13 had to cover the entire Saxon frontier from Eger as far as the Lausitz. He was in the middle at Leitmeritz, then hurriedly withdrew to Turnau, so that Prince Heinrich had to retreat to Niemes and was unable to advance on Turnau via Arnau and join the king, the emperor then faced the king at Nachod, while Laudon faced Heinrich, with his battle line facing Niemes, so that the emperor and Laudon formed a single line and were able to help one another. Heinrich couldn’t hold his ground but retreated to Leitmeritz, the king abandoned Nachod, where he’d been encamped since 5 July, and withdrew into the mountains beyond Trautenau in order to force the armies of the emperor and Laudon to split up as well. We’re now waiting to see how they’ll continue to cut off the road from each other. Addio.
93. Leopold Mozart to his son, 3 September 1778, Salzburg
My Dear Son,
I hope that all my letters have arrived safely. I wrote to you on 3 Aug.– 13 Aug. and 27 Aug. and finally enclosed a brief note for you with my letter to Herr Grimm. – Conversely, I’ve not received so much as a single word from you since 31 July, making my already anxious heart even more agitated. Time was too short to explain everything clearly in my last brief letter, but if you read carefully all my previous letters, you’ll have seen that I’ve been trying to bring you closer to your goal in keeping with your own instructions and attempting to set all our minds at rest in this way. You don’t like Paris.
– If it were impossible to find some means of getting you away from there, you’d have to endure the situation, of course, laboriously troubling yourself with pupils– running round till you find some – running round when you’ve got them, and then, tired and annoyed by this disagreeable work, sitting down at home to compose, placing your health at risk, having to worry every day not only about the money for your necessary upkeep but also for unforeseen eventualities, money that you need to buy linen, clothes and a hundred necessities that one never thinks about until one needs them and which you’ve never been used to having to think about in advance: and doesn’t one need a contingency fund in order to be able to look after oneself in case of illness, without having to depend like a beggar on the alms of kind-hearted friends? Or, even if God in His mercy grants you good health, do you intend to live from hand to mouth, day in, day out, in Paris? In a place that you don’t like? I suspect that nothing could be further from your thoughts. But if you want to set off and leave Paris, – who would give you the money for the journey? Me, perhaps? – Who’ll then pay off your current debts? Do you want to risk ignoring what you’re assured of here and neglect what you could enjoy in peace and quiet here, well looked after, while pursuing your interests at close quarters in order to run around in Paris, which you hate, slaving away and consumed by care day and night? – Bach1 promised to write to you from England and maybe find something for you. But it would be the same old story there, with the additional danger that people are arrested there for debts of 3 or 4 guineas. There can be absolutely no thought of this. I can still help you now – I want to help you and, indeed, must. But if things go on like this, you’ll destroy me with your vain hopes, which have led you away from the path of virtue, and you’ll turn me and your sister into beggars, I’d no longer be in a position to help you, and at the very moment that you were entertaining the most ambitious thoughts, you’d sink unnoticed into utter poverty and only realize this when neither I nor you yourself can help you any longer. As your father, who loves you with all his heart, I’ve had to reflect on the fact that if you remain in Paris this winter or if you’re obliged to remain there, this would only be out of necessity if no other expedient is found. You must await the outcome of your business with the elector. In Paris you’re too remote to pursue the matter. Here people kept approaching me without my giving them an answer. Finally Lolli died. Things then became more serious. People led me to hope that my situation might improve, and I thought that the time had come when I could bring you closer to your goal. As the elector’s whole court is expected in Munich on 15 September, you may be able, while travelling through the city, to speak to your friends, Count Seeau and perhaps the elector himself– you can say that your father in Salzburg wants to see you back home as the prince has offered you a salary of 7 or 800 florins as his concertmaster (you should knowingly add 2 o
r 300 florins) and that you’ve accepted this out of filial respect for your father, although he’d like to have seen you in the elector’s service, but, mark me well, don’t say anything more than this! You can then express the wish to write an opera for Munich. – This latter goal can and must be pursued from here, and it’s bound to work as there’s a shortage of composers able to write German operas. Schweitzer and Holzbauer won’t produce something every year, and even if Michl were to write one, he’ll soon be played out. If people sought to prevent it by expressing doubts or by other such tricks, you have professors among your friends, and they will vouch for you: and this court also occasionally mounts performances during the year.
Mozart: A Life in Letters: A Life in Letters Page 39
