Léopold Mozart, the biological father
Joseph Haydn, the spiritual father?
Part I

Nannerl is not part of the expedition. Wolfgang feels freer, more independent, master of his actions despite being chaperoned by his mother: "I'm always in my best mood. My heart is as light as a feather since I have been away from these baffles, "he wrote on September 26. Anna-Maria's presence will be less of a burden than her father's, he's sure. Long live the liberta!

​

The relationship between Mozart and his son will weaken but for the moment it is still daddy dear once arrived in Mannheim pre-Parisian step:

​

“Daddy dear!

I cannot write a poem, I am not a poet. I cannot arrange my sentences artistically enough so that they alternately diffuse shadows and lights, I am not a painter. I can't express my feelings and thoughts with gestures and pantomime either, I'm not a dancer. But I can do it by sounds, I am Musikus. So tomorrow I'll be playing the piano at Cannabich's[10], a big compliment for your birthday. For today, I can only wish you with all my heart, my dearest Father, everything I wish you every day, morning and evening - health, long life and good humor. I also hope that you now have less inconvenience than when I was still in Salzburg, because I have to admit that I was the only cause. People were behaving badly to me, I didn't deserve this. You naturally took your share - but not too much.

​

This is the main and most important reason why I left Salzburg promptly. And I hope my wish is fulfilled today. "

​

(...) I kiss your hands 1000 times and remain, until death, my very dear Father, Your obedient son ",

​

What baffles is Wolfgang referring to? Who was behaving badly with him?

​

This is obviously Colloredo. Moreover, Léopold explains the situation as follows:

​

"It has been five years since my son has served our prince for low salary, in the hope that he would gradually gain recognition for his efforts and his accomplished knowledge,his great diligence and his ever-lacking zeal. But we were wrong. (...) Suffice it to say that he (Colloredo) was not ashamed to say that my son doesn't know anything, should go to the Naples Conservatory to study music, and all that for what? to give the impression that he no longer deserves either salary or recognition ... "Cf. Léopold on December 22, 1777.

​

When leaving Salzburg, Mozart was therefore not fleeing Leopold but Colloredo.

​

In Mannheim it’s enchantment, a blessed moment. From a musical point of view, he is celebrated everywhere, taken seriously, attending receptions, he is commissioned for works. He meets Christian Cannabich with whom Wolfgang enjoys a warm friendship, with whom he dines regularly.

​

But this independence annoys Leopold who finds that Wolfgang does not know how to promote himself and who urges him to show off more: "This is duty and policy. None of this is intrigue and deceit. " Wolfgang doesn't care. He is unable to “lather” himself. In front of the ignorant or the amateurs, he feels the disgust of this rowdy advertisement with which his father surrounded him throughout his childhood. In Mannheim, far from his father, his friends and his city, finally surrounded by real and excellent musicians, he knows that he doesn't need any sort of juggler to make himself known[11].

​

But relations between Leopold and Wolfgang end up straining. The correspondence between father and son is indicative of the souring of their relationship or, at the very least, of a misunderstanding. She first relates the many professional failures of Wolfgang which seem to prove Leopold right. All attempts by Wolfgang to find a stable job have failed. In Munich, Prince Elector Maximilian III alleges the absence of a vacant post ... In Mannheim, his attempts with Prince Elector Karl Theodore were unsuccessful. Despite his esteem for the young musician, he dares not take into his service a musician dismissed by Colloredo and already dismissed by Maximilian III.

​

Leopold gets carried away, scolds, advises, reasons. We cannot blame him:

​

“A trip is no joke. You haven't yet understood that you have to have other thoughts than crazy jokes (...) You have to be careful to plan for a thousand different things (...) When you have no money, it turns out that we no longer have any friends; this even if you give a hundred free lessons (...) I hope you will think about all this by yourself; because on whom do all these worries finally fall? About your poor father (...) I am telling you all this as it comes to me, from the bottom of my heart. You will first have to recognize that it is no joke to take such a trip and live on hazardous financial returns, (...). Cf. Léopold on November 24, 1777.

​

Moreover, Léopold quickly senses that he is losing his investment, his pension fund:

​

"I have devoted each of my hours to both of you (his children), in the hope that in due time you will not only be able to provide for yourself, but also allow me to pass a quiet old age…”[12]

​

“There were two goals assigned to your trip: to find a stable and well-paid service or if that is not possible to get to an important center where there is a lot of money to be made. In both cases, the end goal was both to support your parents and help your sister to continue on her path ... ”. Cf. Léopold on February 12, 1778.

​

"You must first of all think of your parents, otherwise your soul will go to hell! ". Cf. Léopold on February 12, 1778 op. cit.

​

And then, with 1778 comes the conflict over the Weber family.

​

In Mannheim there is the Weber family or more exactly Aloysia[13] with which Wolfgang fell in love. Aloysia “sings remarkably, her voice is beautiful and pure; she is only fifteen years old, all she needs is action to be able to be a prima donna. " Cf Wolfgang, January 17, 1778.

​

Wolfgang would like to take his "dear Weberin" on tour with him in Italy ...

​

Wolfgang's mother is worried, she considers herself abandoned and complains in secret to her husband:

​

"You could have seen that when Wolfgang made a new acquaintance, he immediately took fire and flame for these people ... It is true that she sings wonderfully. But he must not at the same time forget his own interests (...) As soon as he got to know the Webers, he immediately changed his mind. In short, he likes to be with others better than with me; I think about what doesn't suit me every now and then, and he doesn't like it. (...) I'm writing this in the utmost secrecy, while he's gone to eat, because I wouldn't want to be caught. Farewell, I remain your faithful wife ”. Cf. Anna Maria on February 4, 1778.

​

Leopold is furious. In his very long letter of February 12 (op. Cit.), He notably writes about Wolfgang's project with the Webers: “Your proposal (I am barely able to write when I think about it), your project to take a trip with Mr. Weber and his two daughters almost drove me crazy. My dear son! How can you be seduced, even for an hour, by an idea as absurd as you have in your head? Your letter is nothing more than a novel ".

​

Leopold suspects the girl and her mother are interested: Wolfgang is famous in Mannheim, his support may be important for her future career. He might not be wrong: Having become famous and engaged in Munich, Aloysia would eventually marry actor Joseph Lange[14]. Spouses Weber-Lange and Mozart-Weber will remain friends despite everything.

​

In Salzburg, where Wolfgang has returned to Colloredo's service, nothing is going well. The prince-archbishop still hates him as much, calls him a moron, their exchanges are speckled foil. Colloredo ends up expelling him from the court but still refuses his resignation. Wolfgang does not have the support of Leopold who bends his spine.

​

"... I must admit that in no sentence in your letter do I recognize my father! - a father certainly, but not the best, the most affectionate, the most concerned about his honor and that of his children! In short, not my father! (...) you say, I can only save my honor by renouncing my resolution? How then can you still formulate such a paradox? (...) If it is satisfaction to be rid of a prince who does not pay you and who balls you to death[15], then yes I am satisfied (...) To please you, my excellent father, I I would gladly sacrifice my happiness, my health and my life, but my honor is mine, and it must be above all for us ”. See Wolfgang on May 19, 1781.

​

Wolfgang staysin Vienna, at the home of the Weber family[16]. He will tie up Constanze the third Weber daughter, to the delight of Maria Caecilia her mother who maneuvered for this result[17], but to the chagrin of Leopold opposed to this union.

 

 

[10] Christian Cannabich (1731-1798) is a German composer, Kapellmeister with whom Mozart shared many dinners in 1977. He conducted the Mannheim Orchestra, renowned for its size (up to ninety-five musicians) and the quality of its instrumentalists.

[11] Cf. Jean & Brigitte Massin - op. cit.

[12] Cf. Letter from Léopold of February 5, 1778 (taken up in Mystérieux Mozart by Ph. Sollers op.cit).

[13]Aloysia Weber (1760-1839) is the second daughter of Fridolin Weber, copyist, and the sister of Constance Weber (1762-1842) his future wife.

[14] Aloysia was a bit like Wolfgang the foster child of his family. To obtain the possibility of marrying Aloysia Joseph Lange had to agree to pay his mother a life annuity of 700 florins.

[15] Cuionirt in the text.

[16] The building is called "The Eye of God" (Zum Auge Gottes).

[17] A bit like she maneuvered for Aloysia's wedding (see note 14). Wolfgang married Constanze on August 3, 1782