Dream 009; Mozart Mozart Mozart

[gesangvoll]

Warnings: Habsburgs and gratuitous Mozart. Also, IDK if Leopold and all them are very IC, so you've been warned.


Given that Vienna was known as one of the cities for musicians and that Austria's ruling family, the Habsburgs, were quite fond of fine music, it was not unusual for Austria to private concerts given by musicians invited personally by his empress. What was unusual about this particular concert, however, was that the musician performing was a mere child rather than a full-grown man. Granted, there were rumors all across Vienna about this particular child, but Austria found it rather difficult to believe that this child standing in front of him, his empress, and several of her children was as gifted as the other Viennese nobility said he was.

Once the audience, for lack of a better term, had settled down, the boy's father stepped forward and began to speak. "It is a great honor to be invited here, your majesty," Leopold said, bowing as he spoke. "Wolfgang, too, is honored to be here. If it pleases your majesty, Wolfgang will begin by playing a few of his own compositions."

Upon hearing his name, the little boy merely smiled brightly and sat down at the fortepiano, waiting for his chance to play. As soon as his father gave him the nod to do so, Mozart began to play. Austria watched in awe as this child who was no more than seven years old focused completely on the instrument in front of him, his fingers gliding over the instrument with a skill rarely found in even those musicians older and more accomplished than him. It seemed that the rumors from the other Viennese nobility had their basis after all. Little Mozart played several other pieces after his own were finished, mostly those by more accomplished composers of the day, such as Haydn.

The boy continued to play for some time, even playing while blindfolded because the empress had requested it to test his talent. Of course, the boy had managed to play perfectly even with the blindfold on, much to both Austria and Maria Theresa's amazement. When his performance was finally complete, every person in the room broke out in thunderous applause. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart stood up from the fortepiano bench and gave an overly flamboyant bow, seemingly mocking the bow given by his father at the beginning of his performance.

Comments

[prosecutes]

Was there a time when his music was not appreciated?

[gesangvoll]

That would depend on how you would define appreciated. Though he did have his fans, his work was not truly appreciated by those that mattered the most. For instance, though Joseph II enjoyed Mozart's works and commissioned several operas from him, Leopold II did not appreciate Mozart's music in the least.

[prosecutes]

The opinion of one man alone should not be given such importance, regardless of royal status.

[gesangvoll]

Regardless, a musician could not make much of a living on his own without a royal patron. It was difficult to secure orchestras to perform one's compositions and to find people with enough money willing to commission works. That was how things were back then.

[prosecutes]

It's unfortunate, but even in modern times, talent alone does not determine one's success. Other factors contributing to overall popularity play a large part, supporting the traditional view of the struggling artist... poetic, yet in many cases, tragic.

[gesangvoll]

Poetic though it may be, artists with Mozart's level of talent do not deserve to have to deal with that sort of system. As for what can be done about it, I haven't the faintest idea.

[prosecutes]

The entertainment industry possesses its own system of politics. Even coming up with an idea for how to resolve the issue would require a far greater understanding of it than I possess.

[gesangvoll]

Regardless. You are a fan of Mozart's works, Mr. Edgeworth?

[prosecutes]

I am indeed.

[gesangvoll]

Which of his works do you enjoy the most, then, if I might ask?

[prosecutes]

[Edgeworth was not the happiest of children.]

I've great respect for many of his works, though what he composed of the Requiem Mass in D minor in particular stands out in my mind.

[gesangvoll]

[oh, he can tell. People don't normally say OH LOL I LIKE REQUIEM MASSES when asked about their favorite of a composer's works.]

Really now? And what of Mozart's operas? I don't suppose you listen to those, do you?

[prosecutes]

Of course. They were all masterfully composed, and I am rather fond of The Magic Flute. It's a beautiful work, when performed well.

[gesangvoll]

If it is not going to be performed well, it should not be performed at all, but that is not the point. The Magic Flute is one of my favorites, as well, along with The Marriage of Figaro and Cosi fan Tutte.

[prosecutes]

If only those operas were available in Somarium somehow... while there are concert halls, none of them have performed any works that I recognize.

[gesangvoll]

I admit I'm none too familiar with the quality of the orchestras here in Somarium. If they are decent, putting on a production of one of Mozart's operas would be a simple task.

[prosecutes]

They perform quite well, but the problem would be in obtaining the correct sheet music.

[gesangvoll]

That's hardly a problem. Admittedly, I do not have as extensive a collection of scores of Mozart's music here as I do back home; however, I do have a few scores for some Mozart operas. Only the more well known ones, of course, as finding slightly more obscure sheet music here is difficult to do.

[prosecutes]

In that case, it's quite possible after all. There is a wonderful conservatory in the Government District, perhaps you should speak with them about the possibility of using said sheet music for a concert.

[gesangvoll]

Where exactly is this conservatory, then? I would be more than glad to speak with them about the possibility of performing more well-known operas.

[prosecutes]

On Time Street, between Third and Fourth.

[gesangvoll]

I will pay them a visit as soon as I am able, then.