The Performing Mozart Family

 

 

 

"Leopold Mozart to Lorenz Hagenauer, Salzburg

[Extract]

                                                                 FRANKFURT, 13 August 1763

    The Elector[Emmerich Joseph von Breidtbach] of Mainz was and is still suffering from a severe fewer.  People have teen very anxious about him as he has never yet been ill in his life.  We lodged at the 'König von England' and during our stay gave a concert at the 'Römische König.'[The Mozarts gave three concerts in Mainz, which brought in 200 Gulden.] Then we left our carriage and some luggage at our lodgings and took the market boat to Frankfurt.[The Mozarts arrived at Frankfurt on 9 August and stayed at the inn 'Zum goldenen Löwen'.]  We have been here a few days already.  Next Thursday we shall give a concert, I think, and then return to Mainz, for the market boats ply daily between Mainz and Frankfurt."

"Leopold Mozart to Lozenz Hagenauer, Salzburg

                                                                 FRANKFURT, 20 August 1763

[Extract]

    We gave our concert on the 10th[Goethe, aged fourteen, was present at this concert with his father, who noted in his diary '4 gulden, 7 kreuzer pro concerto musicali duorum infantium.'  In conversation with Eckermann, 3 February 1830, Goethe said, 'I still remember quite clearly the little fellow with his wig and sword' . . ]  It went off splendidly.  On the 22nd and also in the 25th or 26the we are repeating it.[It was repeated too on 30 August. Abert, vol. i, p. 46, quotes the notice of this concert, which described enthusiastically the feats of Nannerl and Wolfgang.]  The Imperial Envoy the Count von Pergen and his wife were there and everyone was amazed.  God is so gracious that, thanks be to Him, we are well and are admired everywhere.  Wolfgang is extraordinarily jolly, but a bit of a scamp as well.  And Nannerl no longer suffers by comparison with the boy, for she plays so beautifully that everyone is talking about her and admiring her execution.  I bought a charming little clavier from Stein in Augsburg, which does us good service for practising on during our travels.

    Once since we started upon them, it was in Augsburg, I think, Wolfgang, on waking up in the morning, began to cry.  I asked him the reason and he said that he was sorry not to be seeing Herr Hagenauer, Wenzel, Spitzeder, Deibl, Leutgeb, Vogt, Cajetan, Nazerl[with the exception of the first, the names enumerated are those of Salzburg musicians, i.e. Wenzel Hebelt [violinist], Spitzeder [tenor], Deibl [oboist], Leutgeb [horn-player], Vogt [viola-player], Anton Cajetan Adlgasser [first cathedral organist], Franz Ignaz Lipp [second cathedral organist]] and other good friends.

    In Mainz Nannerl was given as presents an English hat and a galanterie set of bottles [to the value of about four ducats].  Here she has been given a snuff-box of vernis martin[a brilliant translucent varnish, giving the effect of lacquer.  It was exploited, though not invented, in the eighteenth century by four brothers Martin, and had an immense vogue for sedan-chairs, tables, fans, boxes, etc.] and a piece of Palatinate embroidery, while little Wolfgang has received a porcelain snuff-box" [LETTERS OF MOZART AND HIS FAMILY.  Chronologically arranged, translated and edited by Emily Anderson.  New York: 1966: St Martin's Press, p. 27-28].

[Background Image: The "Römer" in Frankfurt.]