[Footnote 48: Südd. Zeitg. f. Mus., 1861, p. 24.]
[Footnote 49: H. Berlioz (Voy. Mus., II., p. 267) characterises Mozart as the master who, above all others, followed in Gluck's footsteps.]
[Footnote 50: Tieck, Dramaturg. Blatter, II., p. 325.]
THE success of "Figaro" did not materially improve Mozart's position in Vienna. He lived, it is true, in very pleasant intercourse with a large circle of friends, especially with the members of the Jacquin family (Vol. II., p. 357), but the necessity he was under of earning his living as a music teacher and virtuoso was very galling to him. "You happy man!" said he to Gyrowetz, who was setting out on a journey to Italy; "as for me, I am off now to give a lesson, to earn my bread."[1] A glance at the Thematic Catalogue of his compositions succeeding "Figaro" shows that they were probably suggested by his position as a teacher and in musical society:--
1786. June 3. Quartet for piano, violin, viola, and violoncello, in E flat major (493 K.).
June 10. Rondo for piano in F major (494 K.).
June 26. Concerto for the French horn for Leutgeb in, E flat major (495 K.).
July 8. Terzet for piano, violin, and violoncello, in G major (496 K.).
1786. August 1. Piano sonata for four hands in F major (497 K.).
August 5. Terzet for piano, clarinet, and violin, in E flat major (498 K.).
August 19. Quartet for two violins, viola, and violoncello, in D major (499 K.).
September 12. &Twelve variations for the piano in B flat major (500 K.).
November. Variations for the piano for four hands in G major (501 K.).
November 18. Terzet for piano, violin, and violoncello, in B flat major(502 K.).
Then follow three compositions intended for the winter concerts:--
1786. December 4. Pianoforte concerto in C major (503 K.).
December 6. Symphony in D major (504 K.).
December 27. Scena con rondo with pianoforte solo, for Mdlle. Storace and myself, in E flat major (505 K.).
We cannot wonder that he turned a willing ear to the entreaties of his English friends, that he would leave Vienna in the autumn of 1786 (his wife having presented him on October 27, 1786, with their third son, Leopold, who died the following spring) and visit England; this plan was seriously considered, and only abandoned upon his father's strong opposition to it (Vol. II., p. 274). There soon after reached him an invitation from another quarter, giving still greater prospect of success and encouragement. "Figaro" made its way but slowly to most of the other great towns of Europe,[2] but in Prague, where the "Entführung" had left a very pleasing impression, it was performed at once, and with the greatest success.