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: Birthday Boy and His Dogs

[mildred_of_midgard]

Re: Biche II, I didn‘t know she existed, either, but then I did know there were two Alcmenes, and I think two Dianes, so that makes sense.

Same! Fritz the thrifty reused his dog names too. :D

Belated payment: figures - otoh, Fritz is thrifty, otoh, he‘s sure to regard money for Biche related expenses as debts of honor. Thus: belated, but paid?

I was going to say, this struck me as not odd at all. From all my reading about the 18th century, salary payments were in arrears for everyone, all the time, from the lowliest of lackeys to ministers negotiating treaties in foreign countries (this was why diplomats really needed to be independently wealthy). We're used to timely payouts as the rule and late payouts as the exception; I have the impression it was the other way around in the 18th century.