The Letters, vol 1 | Page 6

much about the Milan opera, for we did not go there, but
we heard that it was not successful. Primo uomo, Aprile, who sings
well, and has a fine even voice; we heard him at a grand church festival.

Madame Piccinelli, from Paris, who sang at one of our concerts, acts at
the opera. Herr Pick, who danced at Vienna, is now dancing here. The
opera is "Didone abbandonata," but it is not to be given much longer.
Signer Piccini, who is writing the next opera, is here. I am told that the
title is to be "Cesare in Egitto."
WOLFGANG DE MOZART,
Noble of Hohenthal and attached to the Exchequer.

4.
Milan, Feb. 10, 1770.
SPEAK of the wolf, and you see his ears! I am quite well, and
impatiently expecting an answer from you. I kiss mamma's hand, and
send you a little note and a little kiss; and remain, as before,
your----What? Your aforesaid merry-andrew brother, Wolfgang in
Germany, Amadeo in Italy.
DE MORZANTINI.

5.
Milan, Feb. 17, 1770.
Now I am in for it! My Mariandel! I am so glad that you were so
tremendously merry. Say to nurse Urserl that I still think I sent back all
her songs, but if, engrossed by high and mighty thoughts of Italy, I
carried one off with me, I shall not fail, if I find it, to enclose it in one
of my letters. Addio, my children, farewell! I kiss mamma's hands a
thousand times, and send you a thousand kisses and salutes on your
queer monkey face. Per fare il fine, I am yours, &c.

6.
Milan, Carnival, Erchtag.
MANY kisses to mamma and to you. I am fairly crazed with so much
business, [Footnote: Concerts and compositions of every kind occupied
Mozart. The principal result of his stay in Milan was, that the young
maestro got the scrittura of an opera for the ensuing season. As the
libretto was to be sent to them, they could first make a journey through
Italy with easy minds. The opera was "Mitridate, Re di Ponto."] so I
can't possibly write any more.

7.
Milan, March 3, 1770.
CARA SORELLA MIA,--
I am heartily glad that you have had so much amusement. Perhaps you
may think that I have not been as merry as you; but, indeed, I cannot
sum up all we have done. I think we have been at least six or seven
times at the opera and the feste di ballo, which, as in Vienna, begin
after the opera, but with this difference, that at Vienna the dancing is
more orderly. We also saw the facchinata and chiccherata. The first is a
masquerade, an amusing sight, because the men go as facchini, or
porters; there was also a barca filled with people, and a great number
on foot besides; and five or six sets of trumpets and kettledrums,
besides several bands of violins and other instruments. The chiccherata
is also a masquerade. What the people of Milan call chicchere, we call
petits maitres, or fops. They were all on horseback, which was a pretty
sight. I am as happy now to hear that Herr von Aman [Footnote: The
father had written in a previous letter, "Herr von Aman's accident, of
which you wrote to us, not only distressed us very much, but cost
Wolfgang many tears. You know how sensitive he is"] is better, as I
was grieved when you mentioned that he had met with an accident.
What kind of mask did Madame Rosa wear, and Herr von Molk, and
Herr von Schiedenhofen? Pray write this to me, if you know it; your
doing so will oblige me very much. Kiss mamma's hands for me a
thousand million times, and a thousand to yourself from "Catch him
who can!" Why, here he is!

8.
Bologna, March 24, 1770.
Oh, you busy creature!
Having been so long idle, I thought it would do me no harm to set to
work again for a short time. On the post-days, when the German letters
come, all that I eat and drink tastes better than usual. I beg you will let
me know who are to sing in the oratorio, and also its title. Let me hear
how you like the Haydn minuets, and whether they are better than the
first. From my heart I rejoice to hear that Herr von Aman is now quite

recovered; pray say to him that he must take great care of himself and
beware of any unusual exertion. Be sure you tell him this. I intend
shortly to send you a minuet that Herr Pick danced on the stage, and
which every one in Milan was dancing at the feste di ballo, only that
you may see by it how slowly people dance.