18th-Century Characters, Including Frederick the Great, Discussion Post 34

[cahn]

And including Emperor Joseph II!

from Derek Beales: Joseph II, Volume 2: Against the World, 1780 - 1790:

Joseph's alleged comment to Mozart about the Entführung, "Too many notes", has been taken as evidence of his ignorance. But he probably said something like, "Too beautiful for our ears, and monstrous many notes." It is always necessary to bear in mind, when appraising the emperor's remarks, his peculiar brand of humor or sarcasm. He was usually getting at someone. And he did not use the royal "we". The ears in question were those of the Viennese audience, whom he was mocking for their limited appreciation of Mozart's elaborate music.

(though not gonna lie, I think it is a LOT of notes)

Comments

Re: Collected replies re: Joseph and Leopold , mainly

[mildred_of_midgard]

You had linked to this before, but long ago, and it's definitely worth a revisit. I, for one, had forgotten he was buried with them (though I remembered their tomb facing each other), and yeah, wow. So telling.

That Joseph wanted to be buried in the exact opposite of this, yet with them, just about sums it up.

Yes, exactly. Families are so complicated.

All their differences aside, I do imagine the first thing his parents did when he joined them in the hereafter after his painful death was give him the spiritual equivalent of a big hug.

Awww. Yes!

but somehow, mysteriously, not reinstating da Ponte in his old job after five pages of this.

Lololol. Yes, this seems 100% hardcore realism.

This said, it's human to like someone who liked and supported you, and da Ponte's "Joseph was cool, had great taste (he adored my stuff!), and only wanted the best!" is as valid a response as Leopold's seething "here's all Joseph did wrong".

Also true!