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: Klement: the Weber Version - I

[felis]

Innate sense of order, innate sense of justice, or awareness that if they go to war about a fake accusation with Saxony and/or the Empire, this will not be good for anyone?

Some innate sense of order, maybe, but from what I've learnt about Old Dessauer so far, I'd suggest an innate sense of 'honour', for whatever warped personal definition of that he used. One that saw lies and schemes as something that was beneath him I'd say, which means not getting into wars for fake reasons on one hand, but also making speeches about how he'd have killed the Duke of Orleans and his family on the other. See also: his attempted duel with Grumbkow (instead of getting rid of him through third means like you suggested), his going through with marrying a commoner when he could have kept her as a mistress, even bringing back Grundling - because in his eyes, it wouldn't have been honourable to flee the country, unlike fulfilling your role as the "court fool" and enduring the whims of your superiors (which would have included himself), just as the soldiers had to endure his ideas of Prussian Discipline.