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: Queen Christina: a brief summary

[cahn]

I am delighted! :D This is awesome and Queen Christina sounds awesome!

Christina was in one sense a tomboy - famously and often dressed in male clothing - but not in the sense that most people use the term today, because she did love luxury, and jewelry, and male clothing in the 17th century was as fancy and ruffled with lace and silk as female clothing.

I am starting to feel like all the interesting women dressed in male clothing of the era. Massie says Elizaveta and Catherine did this too? (Which is also shown in Ekaterina, and Catherine does look rather cute in male clothing.)
(luzula, is your shirt finished?)

Christina wrote her passionate letters, introduced her to the British ambassador as her bedfellow and praised her mind and body, and the one reason why there's a slight question mark on "Were they lovers?" is that people did write more emo letters in the era, and Christina also wrote passionate letters to women she never met but admired.

But... like... bedfellows! Ah well, I suppose I don't really think the lively and fervent Danae ever got it on with Fritz either :P

I did also know about Descartes! I even knew a Queen Christina was involved, although I assumed it was probably not this one because I figured there were probably a bunch of Christinas, knowng history :P

he and Christina continue their (they insist) platonic relationship till her death (he's at her side when she dies decades later, she leaves her gigantic art collection to him, but alas he only survives her by a few weeks and his heir sells all the art stuff!).

<3 I... kind of like the idea of them being platonic life partners, although I suppose that's less likely than not.

For example, on the very sympathetic side, she was disgusted by the Roman custom of chasing the Jews through the streets in Carnival time, and took the Roman Jews under her personal protection (there's a letter of hers about this, signed "la Regina" - once a Queen, always a Queen), and when Alexander VII died and was replaced by her and Azzolino's pal who became Clement IX, she succeeded in making said new Pope declaring the custom illegal, full stop.

Okay, that is super awesome :D

(the business with the executed Marchese who was her master of the horse let to staff shortage for obvious reasons)

heeeee!

Re: Queen Christina: a brief summary

[mildred_of_midgard]

I am starting to feel like all the interesting women dressed in male clothing of the era.

But did the *most* interesting woman, namely Émilie?

Massie says Elizaveta and Catherine did this too?

So I'm told! Because it allowed them to show off their well-formed legs.