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: A Fritz podcast episode with some hilarious claims

[selenak]

Voltaire definitely counts. Even 1920s Fredersdorf letters editor Richter of "He loved Fredersdorf like A FATHER" fame called it "an intellectual love affair" and invited us to "follow the King's sufferings for a while" as he explained the Voltaire saga in his editorial comments. (I guess it's easier to admit for No Homo! Historians because no one ever thought Fritz and Voltaire were eager to have sex with each other.)

Though yeah, why anyone who even did the mininum bit of research would call Voltaire's departure "mysterious" given all the ink spilled by both Fritz and Voltaire on that subject is beyond me...