Listen to a translation of a 1787 letter to G. von Jacquin, from Prague, discussing his opera Marriage of Figaro, read by actor Christopher Inman.
Following the great success of Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Mozart was invited to visit Prague in late 1786. He arrived there on January 11, 1787. In this oft- quoted letter to his close friend Jacquin, a singer and amateur composer, Mozart expressed the joy and triumph he felt during his visit: “For here they speak of nothing but Figaro, nothing is played, blown, sung, or whistled but Figaro; no opera attended like Figaro and always Figaro.” He also shared several comical nicknames that he invented, including “Punkitititi” for him- self; “SchablaPumfa” for his wife, Constanze; “Hinkity Honky” and “Gaulimauli” for his friends Gottfried von Jacquin and Franz Jakob Freystädtler; and even “Schamanuzky” for his dog.
WA Mozart (1756–1791)
Autograph letter to Gottfried von Jacquin
Prague, January 15, 1787
Christopher J. Salmon Collection, New York, L2026.97.19
Dearest friend!
…Immediately on arriving [in Prague] Thursday 11th at 12 noon we had to rush at breakneck speed to be ready to eat at 1 o’clock. After the meal, the esteemed old Count Thun treated us to music performed by his own people, and which lasted about one and a half hours. – I can enjoy this true entertainment daily. – at 6 o’clock I drove to the so-called Breitfeld Ball with Count Canal, where the core of the Prague beauties customarily gather. – This would have been just the thing for you, my friend! – I think I see you running –do you really believe that? – no, limping after all the beautiful girls and women. – I did not dance and did not philander. – The former because I was too tired, and the latter because of my native bashfulness;
– but I took great pleasure in watching how these people leapt around in such heartfelt delight to music from my Figaro, transformed entirely into contredanses and German dances; – for here they are talking about nothing except – Figaro; nothing is played, tooted, sung and whistled except – Figaro: no-one goes to any opera except – Figaro and eternally Figaro; certainly a great honour for me.