Haydn and Mozart’s Friendship | Jause, WoO1
This Jause is a highlight from Classical Cake, op. 2. In this excerpt, we’re talking with Alexander Krakhofer, from the Haydn Birthplace in Rohrau, Austria, about the friendship between Joseph Haydn and Mozart…
TRANSCRIPT
There is one relationship that Haydn made during this time that is of a special interest – that is the friendship with Mozart. What were the dynamics between these two men?
Well, first, probably people listening know Mozart was way younger than Haydn. And they met in Vienna around 1781 it’s said. And, they became friends. And not only like friends like people, you know, they became close friends.
There is something heart throbbing. After Mozart passed away, Mozart's wife, Constanze, said ‘Haydn, was Wolfgang’s best friend’ and she would have known definitely.
And so these two men had great respect for each other.
Yes. They did write letters to each other because Mozart was living in Vienna; Haydn stayed most of his time in Esterháza or in the [palace] in Eisenstadt.
When Haydn had invented the string quartet, Mozart composed some quartets himself and he sent them to Haydn… And he said, ‘My dear friend. I humbly send you my [attempts] in creating what you have invented so gloriously – and please let me know if it's good enough.’ And this came from Mozart.
So, Mozart, he kind of also was a humble personality, even if he's always pictured quite bubbly and fresh. But, with his friends he could be very serious.
And, also, they were close. Because sometimes in the letters when you get to see pictures or the originals is ‘mi carissimo’ and he writes ‘my friend from the bottom of my heart’ as an introduction. And this says a lot about the relationship.
One thing which is mentioned not too much in the books – is both Mozart and Haydn were Freemasons and they were in the same lodge here in Vienna.
To illustrate sort of a humility that these two men had in their friendship and the lack of jealousy thereof, the famous quote that Haydn says to Leopold about his son Mozart, ‘Before God and as an honest man, I tell you that your son is the greatest composer known to me, either in person or by name. He has taste. And furthermore, the most profound knowledge of composition.’
There is nothing more to say on Mozart, because it comes from Haydn directly. Haydn wanted to give his appreciation he felt for his friend Wolfgang also to the father who he knew from Mozart directly had always been too strict and said, ‘You have to become better Wolfgang’ and, come on, did Wolfgang Mozart need to become better than he was? I guess not. [Laughter]