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!