A Prodigious Starling

I am pleased to introduce you to Poppy, a starling much like my own Herr Starl, but with a singularly interesting life story. Recently, I received a letter from Poppy's "mother", Lisa, who is a great admirer of my work -- so much so that she has taught Poppy to whistle Eine kleine Nachtmusik. Astounding! You can hear it for yourself below. Poppy also has his own website. Please pay him a visit to read the story of his miraculous rescue and to find out more about his talent.

Letter From a Brother to a Sister

Ma très chère Sœur!

I am very glad that the ribbons were to your taste. I will find out the price of the ribbons, both the painted and the unpainted. At present I do not know it, since Frau von Auerhammer, who had the kindness to procure them for me, refused to take any payment, but begged me to give you all possible civil messages from her, unacquainted though you are, and to say that she would be bery glad at any time to be able to do you any favour. Dearest Sister! I recently wrote in a letter to our dear father that if you would like anything from Vienna, be it what it might, it would be a real pleasure to me to serve you. I now repeat it, with the addition that I should be very grieved if I heard that you had given your commissions to anyone else in Vienna.

I am heartily glad that you are well. I, too, thank God, am well and happy. My sole entertainment is the theatre. I wish you could see a tragedy acted here! I do not know any theatre where all kinds of plays are really well performed; but here every role, even the least, is well cast and understudied.

I should very much like to know how things are going between you and a certain good friend you wrote of? Do write to me about it! Or have I lost your confidence in this matter? In any case, pray write to me often, when you have nothing better to do, be it understood, for I shall be glad of news sometimes, and you are the living protocol of Salzburg, for you write down everything that occurs, and so to please me you might write it down a second time! But you must not be angry if, from time to time, I leave you long without an answer.

As regards something new for the Klavier, I may tell you that I am about to lave four sonatas engraved. Those in C and B flat are among them, and the other two are only new. Then I have written three arias with variations which I could send you, of course, but I think it is hardly worth the trouble, and would rather wait till I have more.

I suppose the Marksmen's Club dinner will soon be held. I beg you solemniter to drink the health of a true marksman! Should the talk turn on me, write to me of it and I will have a target painted!

Now fare you well, dearest, best of sisters, and be assured that I shall ever remain

Your true friend and brother,

Wolfgang Amadé Mozart

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The paintings were made by my excellent friend, Henryette Weijmar Schultz. Please be sure to visit her online gallery!

Yet Another Busy Weekend

On Friday afternoon, my business in town concluded, I set out for the Emperor's summer estate in Laxenburg, where the court musicians are invited each year. Although they still have to perform for His Majesty and his guests, the mood is lighter than it is at the Hofburg and there is more free time to spend in the casino and the pleasure gardens. Not being invited this time, I took it upon myself to make my presence known, which resulted in absolutely nothing. I was completely overlooked by the Emperor. Can you imagine?

I returned to Vienna in a foul humor and began to prepare for the in-home musicale I'd scheduled that very evening. I was not disappointed, for the true connoisseurs of good music, that is to say my friends and colleagues, arrived with their various instruments and bottles of wine and we set ourselves to having a better time that the snobs at the palace could have in several summers. Basta!

Encore l'estate!

When one finds oneself suddenly engaged in unexpected travel, whether for business or pleasure, it is always nice to bring something from home. So far, this summer is proving to be a busy one for me. Since removing myself to Vienna in 1781, I have usually spent the warmer months in delightful indolence - people watching from sidewalk tables while sipping iced champagne, or staying within the cool faux marble walls of my music room.




Already, I have been to Linz on an unexpected invitation extended to me by Count Thun-Hohenstein (the Father-in-law of my dear friend Countess Wilhelmina von Thun who lives in Vienna), who has in his employ an excellent chamber orchestra. He desired that his Summer guests should hear the symphony I composed for him in 1783 and sent his personal coach-and-four to fetch me. Within its luxurious and well-padded walls and seats, I was treated to every amenity that one can imagine: cold meats, wine, artesian water, cakes, and even cloths stored in a crock of cool water to wash away the heat and dust of the road.

I took very little with me, only my usual music accoutrement, the score of the symphony of course, one small trunk of clothing and personal items, my small en route, and my portable clavier. My father bought this little treasure from Andreas Stein in Augsburg while we were on tour in 1762 and it works quite nicely for composition when I am placed in the unfortunate circumstance of not having a keyboard placed in my room for my convenience. One never knows what one will or will not be afforded when one is a guest in a patron's home.

Tomorrow afternoon I am to leave for two days at Laxenburg, where, hopefully, I will accompany some of the Court singers in the Emperor's regular après dîner recitals. I have not been formally invited by His Majesty, but as I have been every year before, I think that once he knows I am near to hand, he will extend that invitation. If not, then I shall spend my evenings in the casino.

A happy and cool early weekend to you all!

First Picnic of the Season

On Friday morning I received an invitation to attend a picnic at Baroness von Waldstätten's estate in Klosterneuburg, a few miles up the Danube from the city (please click the picture to enlarge it). Unbeknonst to me, Her Ladyship had expected me to stay the entire weekend, along with her other guests Mlle. Storace and Mr. Ochelli (snai!), which expectation I was only too happy to fulfill, due to the jolly atmosphere the company had already created prior to my arrival. I regret that I was late, however, due to engagements that could not be broken without serious repercussions. After a princely meal, we retired to the music salon, where I accompanied both Michael and Nancy (Mlle. Storace), and where I improvised at the fortepiano for a time, performing some of the old "monkey tricks" from my childhood concerts across the continent.

The next day we were driven to a lovely spot on the estate, where we were served the most delicious picnic feast I have ever known, including pears picked right from the tree and, of course, plenty of berry champagne. Because I'd had the foresight to bring my violin with me, I played a few airs as Nancy sang along on a couple of them. What a grand time we had playing games of cards and Blind Man's Bluff! The Baroness read to us then, and we napped as though we were her children. Truly, it was quite humorous! Later that evening, in the music salon, we danced as a quartet from the village played for us. It was a quiet evening and we retired rather early.

I was the first to leave this morning, having correspondence to catch up on. Even now, I am dashing this off so that I may get to my labors. What a charming weekend it was!