Mozart the Optimist

During much of his twenty-third year, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was traveling, hoping to find a reliable patron or at least a well-paid position. His letters to his father Leopold in Salzburg are full of cheerful optimism that was not shared by his disapproving parent. Young Mozart had just left Mannheim when he wrote from Kaysersheim on December 18”, 1778:

Not only I but all my closest friends, the Cannahichs especially, were in the most pitiable distress during the final days before my departure. We really believed it would be impossible for us to part. I left at half past eight in the morning hut Madame Cannahich didn’t get up. She simply would not and could not say good- bye. For my part, I didn’t want to upset her, so I left the house without seeing her.

Dearest Father, l assure you she is one of my best and truest friends. For the only people I call friends are friends in every situation, who day and night think only of how they can best serve the interests of their friend, and who employ their influential acquaintances and work hard themselves to ensure his happiness. Well, that’s an accurate portrait of Madame Cannabich.

Of course, there may he some self-interest in this, but how does anything happen, how can anything be done in this world without some self-interest! And what I like best about Madame Cannabich is that she never tries to deny it.

Well, I’ll feel very embarrassed if I get to Munich without my violin sonata. I cannot understand the delay. It’s the most irritating thing I’ve ever run into. Think of it. I know that my sonatas were published at the beginning of November, and I – the composer – have not yet received them, and so I can’t present them to the Electress to whom they are dedicated.