MOZART 21 ably the Betulia liber ata Vicenza, and Ve- rona, and reached home in March, 1771. Maria Theresa had ordered an opera by Hasse and a serenata by Mozart for" the occasion of the marriage of the archduke Ferdinand with a daughter of the prince of Modena, which was to be celebrated in Milan with great splendor. It was September before the text to the sere- nata, Ascanio in Alba, in two acts with ballet, was delivered, and scarcely six weeks were left for the composition and rehearsal of the work ; but it was ready in time, and wholly eclipsed Basse's opera. Just as they reached Salzburg again, Archbishop Sigismund died. His suc- cessor, Hieronymus, Count Colloredo, did all in his power to break the spirit, crush the hopes, and ruin the prospects of young Mozart. For the festivities of his installation Mozart was ordered to compose Metastasio's opera, II sogno di Scipione. It was a hasty composition, and bears more marks of being a mere occasional piece than any other of his works. In Novem- ber he again reached Milan, bringing with him a part of the recitative of an opera which had been ordered, but changes in the text forced him to rewrite most of it. The singers were not yet there for whom he was to adapt the principal parts. It was already December, and only the recitative, choruses, and overture were finished. Yet on the 26th it was publicly given, and, in spite of a bad performance, was a success. It was repeated more than 20 times ; but notwithstanding its success it was Mozart's last opera written for the stage in Italy, be- cause Hieronymus henceforth refused his con- cert master, save in a single instance, leave of absence. In the autumn of 1774 came an order for a comic opera for Munich. Hierony- mus stood in such relations to the elector, that he could not refuse Mozart the necessary leave of absence. The fine orchestra and excellent singers were a new spur to the young man, and this effort surpassed all his previous ones. The opera was Lafinta giardiniera, performed Jan. 13, 1775. A visit of Maria Theresa's youngest son, Maximilian, afterward elector of Cologne, to Salzburg, was the occasion of Mo- zart's last youthful operatic composition ; it was Metastasio's 11 repastore. During the next two years he filled his position as concert master at a court where there was a constant demand upon him as performer and composer. He was the favorite of all classes, and had but one enemy, the man upon whom he depended for subsistence. He was wretchedly paid, and the family avoided debt only by the most rigid economy. Another artistic tour was a necessity, and as a preparation for this Mo- zart went again through a course of study in perfecting himself as a performer upon the or- gan, harpsichord, and violin. In the autumn of 1777 the father petitioned for leave of ab- sence for himself and son. The request was rudely refused. Wolfgang, now of age, im- mediately resigned his place as concert mas- ter. He was the first pianist, one of the first organists, and in the highest rank of violinists in Europe ; and the author of more than 200 works, from the opera, grand mass, and sympho- ny, down through all classes of compositions. He first went to Munich with his mother, but there was no vacancy ; and he turned his steps to Mannheim, where he could not obtain em- ployment. He stayed till March, 1778, partly in consequence of a passion for a beautiful young singer, Aloysia Weber. The mother and son now tried Paris, where they arrived March 23. The contest between the Gluckists and Piccinists was at its height, and they with the French composers filled the stage. Baron Grimm received the Mozarts with great kind- ness ; but he belonged to the Italian party. He procured Mozart a few pupils, who were his main dependence during his stay in Paris. Le Gros, the conductor of the concerts spiritu- els, and others, were very ready to use the young composer's talents for their own benefit, until he was forced to refuse any application for new music not accompanied by the offer of a reasonable compensation. The spring passed away, and the prospect began to improve. Le Gros ordered a symphony, which was given with the greatest applause. At this time (July 3) Mme. Mozart died, and Mozart's father ordered his return to Salzburg. He felt it to be his duty to obey, although fortune was evi- dently turning in his favor in Paris. The time spent there had been of great value to him. He had made himself familiar with many of the principal works of the three great schools of opera, Gluck's, the Italian, and the purely French. The coming of Christian Bach from London, and his friendship for Mozart, opened a prospect also in the English capital ; the place of organist at Versailles, almost a sinecure, had been proposed for him. He delayed at Munich, where he met the Weber family and found that Aloysia's love for him had grown cold ; and he did not reach Salzburg till January, 1779. Mozart was now "concert master and court .and cathedral organist;" the salary was small, but, together with that of the father and what he earned by teaching, enabled the family to live in comfort. It was stipulated in the new contract with the archbishop that leave of ab- sence should be granted at reasonable inter- vals, for the production of new works in oth- er cities. So passed nearly two years, Mozart being called upon continually for new music for church and chamber, and supplying the demand with a succession of works of increas- ing excellence. Of dramatic music during this period he produced only the choruses and entr'- actes to the play of " Thames, King of Egypt," and an unfinished opera, Zalde. In 1780 he received the order for Idomeneo, the opera seria for the ensuing carnival, which was produced Jan. 29, 1781. Five years had elapsed since his last work for the operatic stage, which had been in the formal Italian style. Idomeneo from the character of the text was of the same school, but bears marks of the composer's
