Part 26

I have this moment received your few lines of January 1st. When I opened the letter I chanced to hold it in such a manner that nothing but a blank sheet met my eyes. At last I found the writing. I am heartily glad that I have got an aria for Raaff, as he was quite resolved to introduce the air he had discovered, and I could not possibly (N. B., with a Raaff) have arranged in any other way than by having Varesco's air printed, but Raaff's sung. I must stop, or I shall waste too much time. Thank my sister very much for her New-Year's wishes, which I heartily return. I hope we shall soon be right merry together. Adieu! Remembrances to friends, not forgetting Ruscherle. Young Eck sends her a kiss, a sugar one of course.

139.

Munich, Jan. 10, 1780.

My greatest piece of news is that the opera is put off for a week. The grand rehearsal is not to take place till the 27th--N. B., my birthday--and the opera itself on the 29th. Why? Probably to save Count Seeau two hundred gulden. I, indeed, am very glad, because we can now rehearse frequently and more carefully. You should have seen the faces of the Robinigs when I told them this news. Louisa and Sigmund are delighted to stay; but Lise, that SNEAKING MISERY, has such a spiteful Salzburg tongue that it really drives me distracted. Perhaps they may still remain, and I hope so on Louisa's account. In addition to many other little altercations with Count Seeau, I have had a sharp contention with him about the trombones. I call it so, because I was obliged to be downright rude, or I never should have carried my point. Next Saturday the three acts are to be rehearsed in private. I got your letter of the 8th, and read it with great pleasure; the burlesque, too, I like very much. Excuse my writing more at this time; for, in the first place, as you see, my pen and ink are bad, and, in the second, I have still a couple of airs to write for the last ballet. I hope you will send no more such letters as the last, of only three or four lines.

140.

Munich, Jan. 18, 1780.

PRAY forgive a short letter, for I must go this very moment, ten o'clock (in the forenoon of course), to the rehearsal. There is to be a recitative rehearsal for the first time to-day in the theatre. I could not write before, having been so incessantly occupied with those confounded dances. Laus Deo, I have got rid of them at last, but only of what was most pressing. The rehearsal of the third act went off admirably. It was considered very superior to the second act. The poetry is, however, thought far too long, and of course the music likewise, (which I always said it was.) On this account the aria of Idamante, "No la morte io non pavento" is to be omitted, which was, indeed, always out of place there; those who have heard it with the music deplore this. Raaff's last air, too, is still more regretted, but we must make a virtue of necessity. The prediction of the oracle is still far too long, so I have shortened it; but Varesco need know nothing of this, because it will all be printed just as he wrote it. Madame von Robinig will bring with her the payment both for him and Schachtner. Herr Geschwender declined taking any money with him. In the meantime say to Varesco in my name, that he will not get a farthing from Count Seeau beyond the contract, for all the alterations were made FOR ME and not for the Count, and he ought to be obliged to me into the bargain, as they were indispensable for his own reputation. There is a good deal that might still be altered; and I can tell him that he would not have come off so well with any other composer as with me. I have spared no trouble in defending him.

The stove is out of the question, for it costs too much. I will have another bed put up in the room that adjoins the alcove, and we must manage the best way we can. Do not forget to bring my little watch with you. We shall probably make an excursion to Augsburg, where we could have the little silly thing regulated. I wish you also to bring Schachtner's operetta. There are people who frequent Cannabich's house, who might as well hear a thing of the kind. I must be off to the rehearsal. Adieu!

The father and sister arrived on the 25th of January, and the first performance of the opera took place a few days afterwards; then the family amused themselves for some little time with the gayeties of the Carnival. The Archbishop had gone to Vienna; and, desiring to appear in the Imperial city in the full splendor of a spiritual prince, he had taken with him, in addition to fine furniture and a large household, some of his most distinguished musicians. On this account, therefore, Mozart, in the middle of March, also received the command to go to Vienna. He set off immediately.

END OF VOL. I.

CONTENTS OF VOLUME I. [LETTERS LISTED BY DATE]

FIRST PART ITALY VIENNA MUNICH 1770-1776

LETTER

1. Salzburg, 1769 2. Verona, Jan 7, 1770 3. Milan, Jan 26, 1770 4. Milan, Feb. 10, 1770 5. Milan, Feb 17, 1770 6. Milan, Carnival, Erchtag, 1770 7. Milan, Mar 3, 1770 8. Bologna, Mar 24, 1770 9. Rome, April 14, 1770 10. Rome, April 21, 1770 11. Rome, April 25, 1770 12. Naples, May 19, 1770 13. Naples, May 29, 1770 14. Naples, June 5, 1770 15. Naples, June 16, 1770 16. Rome, July 17, 1770 17. Bologna, July 21, 1770 18. Bologna, July, 1770 19. Bologna, August 4, 1770 20. Bologna, August 21, 1770 21. Bologna, Sept 8, 1770 22. Bologna, Sept 22, 1770 23. Bologna, Sept 29, 1770 24. Bologna, Oct 6, 1770 25. Milan, Oct. 20, 1770 26. Milan, Oct. 27, 1770 27. Milan, Nov 3, 1770 28. Milan, Dec 1, 1770 29. Milan, Jan, 1771 30. Venice, Feb 15, 1771 31. Venice, Feb 20, 1771 32. Verona, Aug 18, 1771 33. Milan, Aug 23, 1771 34. Milan, Aug 31, 1771 35. Milan, Sept 13, 1771 36. Milan, Sept 21, 1771 37. Milan, Oct 5, 1771 38. Milan, Oct 26, 1771 39. Milan, Nov 2, 1771 40. Milan, Nov. 24, 1771 41. Milan, Nov 30, 1771 42. Bologna, Oct 28, 1772 43. Milan, Nov 7, 1772 44. Milan, Nov, 1772 45. Milan, Nov 21, 1772 46. Milan, Nov 28, 1772 47. Milan, Dec 5, 1772 48. Milan, Dec 18, 1772 49. Milan, Jan 23, 1773 50. Vienna, Aug 14, 1773 51. Vienna, Aug 21, 1773 52. Vienna, Sept. 15, 1773 53. Munich, Dec. 28, 1774 54. Munich, Dec. 30, 1774 55. Munich, Jan. 11, 1775 56. Munich, Jan. 14, 1775 57. Munich, Jan., 1775 58. Salzburg, Sept. 4, 1776

SECOND PART. MUNICH AUGSBURG MANNHEIM SEPTEMBER 1777 to MARCH 1778

59. Wasserburg, Sept. 23, 1777 60. Munich, Sept. 26, 1777 61. Munich, Sept. 29, 1777 62. Munich, Oct. 2, 1777 63. Munich, Oct. 6, 1777 64. Munich, Oct. 11, 1777 65. Augsburg, Oct. 14, 1777 66. Augsburg, Oct. 17, 1777 67. Augsburg, Oct. 17, 1777 68. Augsburg, Oct. 23, 1777 69. Augsburg, Oct. 25, 1777 70. Mannheim, Oct. 30, 1777 71. Mannheim, Nov. 4, 1777 72. Mannheim, Nov. 5 1777 73. Mannheim, Nov. 8, 1777 74. Mannheim, Nov. 13, 1777 75. Mannheim, Nov. 13, 1777 76. Mannheim, Nov. 14-16, 1777 77. Mannheim, Nov. 20, 1777 78. Mannheim, Nov. 22, 1777 79. Mannheim, Nov. 26, 1777 80. Mannheim, Nov. 29, 1777 81. Mannheim, Dec. 3, 1777 82. Mannheim, Dec. 6, 1777 83. Mannheim, Dec. 10, 1777 84. Mannheim, Dec. 14, 1777 85. Mannheim, Dec. 18, 1777 86. Mannheim, Dec. 20, 1777 87. Mannheim, Dec. 27, 1777 88. Mannheim, Jan. 7, 1778 89. Mannheim, Jan. 10, 1778 90. Mannheim, Jan. 17, 1778 91. Mannheim, Feb. 2-4, 1778 92. Mannheim, Feb. 7, 1778 93. Mannheim, Feb. 14, 1778 94. Mannheim, Feb. 19, 1778 95. Mannheim, Feb. 22, 1778 96. Mannheim, Feb. 28, 1778 97. Mannheim, end of Feb, 1778 98. Mannheim, Mar. 7, 1778 99. Mannheim, Mar. 11, 1778

THIRD PART. PARIS. MARCH 1778 to JANUARY 1779

100. Paris, Mar. 24, 1778 101. Paris, April 5, 1778 102. Paris, May 1, 1778 103. Paris, May 14, 1778 104. Paris, May 29, 1778 105. Paris, June 12 1778 106. Paris, July 3, 1778 107. Paris, July 3, 1778 108. Paris, July 9, 1778 109. Paris, July 18, 1778 110. Paris, July 31, 1778 111. Paris, Aug 7, 1778 112. St Germains, Aug 27, 1778 113. Paris, Sept 11, 1778 114. Nancy, Oct 3, 1778 115. Strassburg, Oct 15, 1778 116. Strassburg, Oct 26, 1778 117. Mannheim, Nov 12, 1778 118. Mannheim, Nov 24, 1778 119. Mannheim, Dec 3, 1778 120. Kaisersheim, Dec 18, 1778 121. Kaisersheim, Dec 23, 1778 122. Munich, Dec 29, 1778 123. Munich, Dec 31, 1778 124. Munich, Jan 8, 1779 125. Salzburg, May 10, 1779

FOURTH PART MUNICH IDOMENEO NOVEMBER 1780 to JANUARY 1781

126. Munich, Nov 8, 1780 127. Munich, Nov 13, 1780 128. Munich, Nov 15, 1780 129. Munich, Nov 22, 1780 130. Munich, Nov 24, 1780 131. Munich, Dec 1, 1780 132. Munich, Dec 5, 1780 133. Munich, Dec 13, 1780 134. Munich, Dec 16, 1780 135. Munich, Dec 19, 1780 136. Munich, Dec 27, 1780 137. Munich, Dec 30, 1780 138. Munich, Jan 3, 1781 139. Munich, Jan 10, 1781 140. Munich, Jan 18, 1781