Society

[SR]

Originally posted by Peter:
This isn't so - the break with Archbishop Colloredo actually came in Vienna in 1781, 3 years after the Paris trip during which his mother died. Mozart's first move was to take on private pupils and find lodgings in the Graben.

Thanks you for clarifying, which I did not do well. The final break with the Archbishop was as you say after the Paris trip. However the Paris trip was the break with Salzburg at that moment in Mozarts mind. It just didn't work and he was forced to return. After 1781 he did go to Vienna with no post other than lessons, concert subscriptions, and possible commissions. He was very open however to finding and did seek a post in Vienna.


Steve

[Rod]

Originally posted by Peter:
I didn't say the opera productions were out on a limb - I said that by resigning and going it alone Mozart was out on a limb - he simply had no financial backing, save what his pupils and concerts produced. By referring to the Marriage of Figaro I was talking about the subject matter - the controversial Beaumarchais play that had already been banned in Vienna.

If you're going to be self sufficient, I would say producing music for the stage (as opposed to instrumental works) would be the best, if not the only way of going about it in those days. But I'm not sure a character like Mozart would have been able to maintain himself in the long term as a businessman as well as a composer. I think Handel's capacity as an entrepreneur was quite unusual for an artiste, and even he almost met with disaster.


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"If I were but of noble birth..." - Rod Corkin



[This message has been edited by Rod (edited 04-12-2002).]

[Kitsune]

Originally posted by Rod:
If you're going to be self sufficient, I would say producing music for the stage (as opposed to instrumental works) would be the best, if not the only way of going about it in those days. But I'm not sure a character like Mozart would have been able to maintain himself in the long term as a businessman as well as a composer. I think Handel's capacity as an entrepreneur was quite unusual for an artiste, and even he almost met with disaster.

Thanks for the info.