Life of Mozart

;OFFER OF THE KING OF PRUSSIA.23IDuport's ill-nature, invitedMozart regularly to his concerts,and was fond of hearing him play. When he asked himwhat he thought of the Berlin Kapelle, Mozart answeredfrankly, that it contained the best performers in the world,but that if the gentlemen would play together it would be animprovement.^^ This implied disapprobation of the KapellmeisterReichardt, whose direction had indeed been foundfault with by others.^^ We hear of no intercourse betweenthe two artists ;perhaps some such sharp expressions as theabove were the cause of the grudging notices of Mozart byReichardt and the journals under his influence, which wecannot fail to remark.^^ No two natures could well be moredissimilar. Reichardt was undoubtedly a distinguishedman; he had musical talent, a keen intellect, varied cultivation,and great energy; but ambition, vanity, and a passionatetemper seldom allowed him to arrive at a calmjudgment, and he was in continual search of some new wayin which to bring himself forward. The journalist and themusician, the critic and the composer, trod close on eachother's heels ; and while always seeking to gain credit fororiginality of style, his greater compositions are in truthuncertain and unequal, and seldom produce the desiredeffect. No wonder that he failed to understand a nature suchas Mozart's, which, undisturbed by external considerations,followed its creative impulses from sheer inner necessityno wonder, either, that so failing, he should have soughtto justify his aversion to his rival on polemical grounds.-^Mozart's remark must have made some impressionon theKing, since he soon after offered him the post of Kapellmeister,with a salary of 3,000 dollars. This offer, however,consideration for the Emperor Joseph induced Mozart todecline.^^21 Rochlitz, A. M. Z., I., p. 22. 22 Dittersdorf, Selbstbiogr., p. 267.23 Cf. Rochlitz, A. M. Z., XXX., p. 491.2i Cf. Schletterer, Reichardt, I., p. 638.25 My researches in the Royal Library and archives for some trace of negociationsaccompanying this offer have proved fruitless. It must therefore havebeen at once refused at Mozart's personal interview with the King ; the way inwhich Mozart writes to his wife, that she has cause to be satisfied with the favourin which he stands with the Kmg, seems to refer to some definite proposal.