The Letters, vol 1 | Page 4

Immediately on their return home, the young virtuoso was appointed
archiepiscopal Concertmeister. He passed almost the whole of the year
1769 in Salzburg, chiefly engaged in the composition of masses. We
also see him at that time eagerly occupied in improving his knowledge
of Latin, although two years previously he had composed a comedy in
that language,--"Apollo et Hyacinthus." From this study proceeds the
first letter which is still extant from his hand:--

1.
Salzburg, 1769.
MY DEAR YOUNG LADY,--
I beg you will pardon the liberty I take in plaguing you with these few
lines, but as you said yesterday that there was nothing you could not
understand in Latin, and I might write what I chose in that language, I
could not resist the bold impulse to write you a few Latin lines. When
you have deciphered these, be so good as to send me the answer by one
of Hagenauer's servants, for my messenger cannot wait; remember, you
must answer this by a letter.
[Footnote: By a messenger of the Hagenauer family, in whose house,
opposite the inn of "Den drei Allurten," Mozart was born, and with
whom his family were on the most intimate terms.]
"Cuperem scire, de qua causa, a quam plurimis adolescentibus ottium
usque adeo oestimetur, ut ipsi se nec verbis, nec verberibus ad hoc
sinant abduci."
[Footnote: "I should like to know the reason why indolence is so highly
prized by very many young men, that neither by words nor blows will
they suffer themselves to be roused from it."]
WOLFGANG MOZART.

The father's plan to go to Italy, there to lay the foundation of a
European reputation for his son, was realized in the beginning of
December, 1769, and during the journey, the boy, who was at that time
just entering his fifteenth year, subjoined to his father's reports scraps
of his own writing, in which, in true boyish fashion, he had recourse to
all kinds of languages and witticisms, but always exhibiting in his

opinions on music the closest observation, the gravest thought, and the
most acute judgment.

2.
Verona, Jan. 1770.
MY VERY DEAREST SISTER,--
I have at last got a letter a span long after hoping so much for an
answer that I lost patience; and I had good cause to do so before
receiving yours at last. The German blockhead having said his say, now
the Italian one begins. Lei e piu franca nella lingua italiana di quel che
mi ho immaginato. Lei mi dica la cagione perche lei non fu nella
commedia che hanno giocata i Cavalieri. Adesso sentiamo sempre una
opera titolata Il Ruggiero. Oronte, il padre di Bradamante, e un principe
(il Signor Afferi) bravo cantante, un baritono,
[Footnote: "You are more versed in the Italian language than I believed.
Tell me why you were not one of the actors in the comedy performed
by the Cavaliers. We are now hearing an opera called 'Il Ruggiero.'
Oronte, the father of Bradamante, is a Prince (acted by Afferi, a good
singer, a baritone)."]
but very affected when he speaks out a falsetto, but not quite so much
so as Tibaldi in Vienna. Bradamante innamorata di Ruggiero (ma
[Footnote: "Bradamante is enamored of Ruggiero, but"]--she is to
marry Leone, but will not) fa una povera Baronessa, che ha avuto una
gran disgrazia, ma non so la quale; recita [Footnote: "Pretends to be a
poor Baroness who has met with some great misfortune, but what it is I
don't know, she performs"] under an assumed name, but the name I
forget; ha una voce passabile, e la statura non sarebbe male, ma
distuona come il diavolo. Ruggiero, un ricco principe innamorato di
Bradamante, e un musico; canta un poco Manzuolisch [Footnote:
Manzuoli was a celebrated soprano, from whom Mozart had lessons in
singing when in London.] ed ha una bellissima voce forte ed e gia
vecchio; ha 55 anni, ed ha una [Footnote: "She has a tolerable voice,
and her appearance is in her favor, but she sings out of tune like a devil
Ruggiero, a rich Prince enamored of Bradamante, is a musico, and
sings rather in Manzuoli's style, and has a fine powerful voice, though
quite old; he is fifty-five, and has a"] flexible voice. Leone is to marry
Bradamante--richississimo e, [Footnote: "Immensely rich."] but

whether he is rich off the stage I can't say. La moglie di Afferi, che ha
una bellissima voce, ma e tanto susurro nel teatro che non si sente
niente. Irene fa una sorella di Lolli, del gran violinista che habbiamo
sentito a Vienna, a una [Footnote: "Afferi's wife has a most beautiful
voice, but sings so softly on the stage that you really hear nothing at all.
A sister of Lolli, the great violinist whom we heard at Vienna,