A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Weber Family

by Carl Ferdinand Pohl

WEBER FAMILY, known for their connection with Mozart, who first knew them in Mannheim, and married the third daughter. The father,

Fridolin, born 1733 at Zell (in Breisgau), studied law at Freiburg, and succeeded his father as bailiff of the Schonau estates. He was a clever violinist, and the Elector Karl Theodor invited him and his brother Franz Anton to Mannheim, where however, according to Mozart, he occupied quite a subordinate position as copyist, prompter, and supernumerary violinist in the band. In 1756 he married Marie Cacilie Stamm of Mannheim. His brother, and junior by a year, Franz Anton, was the father of Carl Maria von Weber, who was thus Mozart's first cousin by marriage. Mozart writing to his father about Fridolin Weber's four daughters, says, 'I have never met before with such a variety of dispositions in one family.' The eldest,

Josepha, was a bravura singer, with a high and flexible voice, but a poor musician. Mozart wrote for her the part of the Queen of Night in the 'Zauberflöte' and a bravura air (Köchel, No. 580). She married in 1789 Hofer, violinist at Schikaneder's theatre, and after his death Meyer, a bass-singer, who sang Pizarro in 'Fidelio.' She died in 1820. The second,

Aloysia, born 1750, was Mozart's first love. Her voice was exceptionally high, and extremely pleasant in tone, though perhaps rather weak for the stage. In 1780 she was engaged for the opera in Vienna, and married an actor at the court theatre, named Lange, who died in 1827. Mme. Lange made several professional tours before her final retirement in 1808. She died at Salzburg in 1839. Mozart wrote for her the part of Constanze in the 'Entführung,' 6 airs (Köchel, Nos. 294, 316, 383, 418, 419, 538), and a rondo (No. 416).^[1] The third,

Constanze, born 1763 at Zell, became Mozart's wife. When the Archbishop of Salzburg dismissed Mozart from his household in Vienna, the latter took up his abode with Frau Weber (her husband had died of apoplexy), then living with three of her daughters, Aloysia being married, in a house called 'Zum Auge Gottes,' in the Peters-Platz. Here began the love affair which caused Mozart's father so much anxiety. The marriage took place Aug. 4, 1782, and in nine years Constanze was left a widow. For the support of herself and children she made several professional tours. In 1809 she married a Danish official named Nissen,^[2] but in 1826 was again left a widow, and died at Salzburg March 6, 1842.^[3] The youngest of the four,

Sophie, born 1764, also a talented singer, married Haibl, tenor and composer, attached to Schikaneder's theatre. During widowhood she lived with Constanze at Salzburg, and died there in 1843. She was present at Mozart's death, and in 1825 wrote, at Niesen's request, a touching account of the last sad moments.

[ C. F. P. ]

1. See ante, vol. ii. 387.
2. Ib. ii. 460.
3. Ib. ii. 406.