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: Ceci ce n'est pas un write up: the McKay biographies

[mildred_of_midgard]

While we're on the subject of biographies (which I usually am these days ;)), do you know if Uwe Schultz is notably good or bad? The Kindle sample of his Mazarin bio seems readable enough, but his other bios I'm eyeing (Richelieu, Louis XIV, Henri IV) are hard-copy only.

Re: Ceci ce n'est pas un write up: the McKay biographies

[selenak]

alas, I haven't read anything of his yet, so I can't say.