30 September 1791

pages 120-121

Oh, Amadé!

You have again taken Vienna by storm! Die Zauberflöte truly is a fantastical spectacle! I can see why dear Josefa had such difficulty explaining it…& wasn’t she astounding? The Queen of the Night surely brought the house down as only a Weber sister could! How you ever finished this masterwork of exotic adventure with so many interruptions is completely beyond me.

I can scarcely believe the abundance of work you have these days. (Open your wardrobe with caution when you dress in the morning–someone may jump out & ask you for another opera!)

(14 October) The great Mozart must be so proud! Look at this little letter your son sent me today! How sweet of you & Hofer to take him with you. I am sure the imperious Salieri was impressed with the young Mozart’s manners! What a treat to sit with the grown-ups in his papa’s box & watch his papa’s own opera on stage! He will be telling his baby brother Franz about that glorious night for years to come!

♥Aloysia.

Dear Auntie Aloysia, Hi! It’s your best nephew Karl Thomas Mozart. I am 7 yrs old. I am just about grown up now because Papa took me to see his new magick opera. My Papa is very famous you know. I think he is the best papa in the whole world. I am going to tell Mama & baby Franz all about it when we visit them tomorrow. I like Papageno best. He has feathers. Auntie Josefa was very scary. I clapped for her alot & said brava & bella just like papa told me to! kisses for little Karl!

~Karl T.M.

(Exerpts from Letters to Mozart © 2006 Kristin Serafini.)