MOZART'S LETTERS
To The Editor, "The Listener" Sir.-Recently while "listening in" to Daventry and also diligently conning my Listener I read that immediately following was Mozart’s Concerto in D Minor. I decided to listen on, and was well repaid by the beauty of the selection. Strangely enough on visiting a library next day, and while still Mozart-minded, I saw a translation of "Mozart’s Letters to his Family," by M. E. Andersen. To me a translation always seems to beautify the subject chosen-two clever minds expressing themselves expertly. Mozart was small and plain with a long nose and quantities of fair hair of which he was inordinately proud. His parents were both good-looking, and a cousin to whom he wrote many letters was described in another translation as what we English would call " hot stuff." Nature had indeed chosen a poor vehicle in Wolfgang Mozart. As I ruefully read a letter to his cousin (there are many such) I realised it was a case of Beauty and Beast. Beauty of soul in his glorious music and beastliness of mind in many of his letters-which out of respect to all music lovers and admirers of Mozart’s works should be expunged from the translation. One cannot feel the same again or cease to marvel what good purpose, if any, they serve.
B.
LATTER
Christchurch, November 17, 1939
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/periodicals/NZLIST19391201.2.13.1
Bibliographic details
New Zealand Listener, Volume 1, Issue 23, 1 December 1939, Page 10
Word Count
224MOZART'S LETTERS New Zealand Listener, Volume 1, Issue 23, 1 December 1939, Page 10
Using This Item
Material in this publication is protected by copyright.
Are Media Limited has granted permission to the National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa to develop and maintain this content online. You can search, browse, print and download for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Are Media Limited for any other use.
Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
Copyright in the Denis Glover serial Hot Water Sailor published in 1959 is owned by Pia Glover. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this serial and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the Listener. You can search, browse, and print this serial for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from Pia Glover for any other use.
Log in