As we get closer to Carnevale, I can’t help but read this letter from Mozart to his wife (who was in Salzburg at the time) about experiencing Carnevale in Venice….imagining what the celebration would be like back in 1771…
from Venice Feb 13,1771
Bad weather and an amazing gale meant that it wasn`t till the morning of Carnival Monday that we reached Venice, that same afternoon we managed to see H Wider who, together with his wife, accompanied us to the opera . We lunched with him on Shrove Tuesday, then went to the opera, which began at 2 and finished at around 7 in the evening, after which we dined with him and by 11 or 12 o`clock German time we were in St Mark`s Square in order to go to the Ridotto. We told each other that you`d probably be with Hagenauer and would hardly imagine that we were talking about you in St Mark`s Square. We had the most appalling rain, but today, Ash Wednesday, we have the most beautiful weather. Praise be to God, we`re in good health. Who do you think we met in Brescia? – – We were on our way to the opera buffa there when we encountered Sga Angeliga [sic] Maggiore, the prima donna, who`s married to a tenor who was also performing there. She was very surprised to see us. Tell H Spizeder that if he wants to see his former impresario Crosa, he can do so in Milan, where he goes about begging, wretchedly dressed and with a long beard. This is how God punishes cheats! You`ll have heard that Carattoli and Laschi have died. I`ve received your letter with the note from H von Vogt. Farewell, I must hurry. We kiss you 100000 times and I am
your old
Mozart
Here’s a sound ‘bite’ of Mozart to get you in the Carnevale mood http://www.missionchamber.org/mp3/mco-Mozart40-1-open.mp3
**Carnevale Luncheon and Cooking Demo-February 11th at Casa Casale..join me, registration is limited, this wil include a multi course Carnevale lunch from the Gourmand World Award winning book The Basic Art of Italian Cooking: Holidays and Special Occasions-2nd edition. Call Casa Casale at 215-794-1474
Go to https://casacasale.com/ for more info
