WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART

AMADEUS IN 1790

PERSONA

The icy hell

His music transcends

In Vienna, everything collapses around Mozart: his works earns him only some florins pre-mortgaged by those he calls his friends.

Sick and tired, he nevertheless creates music that stands out by the quiet intensity of the emotions such music conveys.

“If people could see in my heart, I would almost redden. All is cold like ice... People pleasant manners towards me appear so empty!”
Mozart, September 23, 1790

SOCIETÀ

Revolution thunders

Who wants Mozart?

In February 1790, whereas the revolution took place in France, Leopold II succeeded to his brother for the Austria throne. Under this renewal, Mozart – the author of the Noces de Figaro opera – was kept away and saw his incomes reduced to a few florins, received here and there. In September, he paid the travel expenses to Frankfurt in order to attend the coronation to which, in spite of his Court position, he was not invited. This travel would have been without purpose if he had not stopped to Mannheim where the première of his Noces de Figaro opera took place and where he counted several of his friends.

In October, because of inadequate financial resources, he had to refuse a composer position offered by the London Italian Opera's director.

“All would be in assistance to me at this time...”
Mozart

KOECHEL

Cosi fan Tutte

In Cosi fan Tutte opera, two couples believe having sealed the true meaning of love and, up to the end of times, swear fidelity and loyalty to each other. But a subterfuge of their own will reveal that things are not that simple.

The opera introduces a tragi-comedy into which feelings evolve from an ingenuous assignment, to uncertainty, and then, to acceptance.

“In what a cruel contrast, in what a disorder of thoughts and feelings I find myself! So strange and new is my case that neither the others ones, nor myself are enough to advise me...”
Ferrando recitative, Cosi fan Tutte
K.312Allegro for piano in G Minor
K.588"Cosi Fan Tutte, Ossia: La Scuola degli Amanti "(They all make very in the same way, or the School of the lovers), opera-buffa
K.589String quartet No. 22 in B flat Major - Second of the three quartets intended for the King of Prussia
K.590String quartet No. 23 in F Major - Last of the three quartets intended for the King of Prussia
K.591Instrumentation of Handel's "Alexander's Feast"
K.592Instrumentation of Handel's "Ode to Saint Cecilia"
K.593String quintet No. 6 in D Major
K.594Fantasia No. 1 for mechanical organ in F Minor
K.625Duo: "Nun Liebes Weibchen", for soprano and bass, in F Major

CON SPIRITO

What remains?

Why?

While Mozart's music aroused the most vivid admiration as well as envious glances, it also created quivers to others.

In the days where human liberties where challenged, Mozart got the ruling class to be worried. In such circumstances, how could he pursue his artistic endeavor without being muzzled?

“The Bastille would have to be destroyed so that the representation of this piece would not be a dangerous inconsequence.”
Louis XVI

Glossaryexpressions and names used in this page

Cosi fan tutte opera
The first representation of Mozart's Cosi fan tutte ossia La scuola degli amanti (Thus they do all or The school of lovers) opera took place on January 26, 1790 at the National Theatre of Vienna.
Ferrando, Recitative
His fiancée betrayed him and his thoughts go towards his friend's fiancée: the laws of love appear to Ferrando under a day different from what his education had prepared him.
Frankfurt
City of the mid-west of Germany, in Hesse where Goethe lived during his childhood. The Holy Roman Emperors of the German nation were elected and crowned in the Saint-Barthelemy cathedral, – in Frankfurt. It was annexed to Prussia in 1866 and had to be rebuilt after the Second World War.
Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832), poet, writer and German playwright. Author of the dramatic poem Faust, considered as a Western literature masterpiece.

On February 3, 1830, Goethe – then 80 years old –, reminded the only time he have seen Mozart.
Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809). Famous Austrian composer whose work falls under the traditional style. He shared a deep friendship with Mozart.
Help!
Extract of a letter addressed by Wolfgang to Puchberg, August 14, 1790.
Louis XVI
Sayings of Louis XVI about the Mariage de Figaro (Marriage of Barber) theatre piece which inspired Mozart for his opera entitled Noces de Figaro.
Mannheim
City of the southwest of Germany, famous in the world of music and theatre. Founded in 1606 by Frederic IV, Holland Protestants took refuge there. Mannheim became a famous music and theater centre.

Mozart counted several friends there.
“The language I speak”
Joseph Haydn to Mozart, about music.
Vienna
Capital of the Republic of Austria. Vienna had been for 400 years the heart of the Austrian Empire when in the XVIIIth century, Maria Theresa and her sons Joseph II and Leopold II – from Habsburg's family – reigned on the Empire.