Sophie Weber
Encyclopedia
Maria Sophie Weber was a singer of the 18th and 19th centuries. She was the younger sister of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
's wife Constanze
, and is remembered primarily for the testimony she left concerning the life and death of her brother-in-law.
and the second oldest Aloysia Weber
. Her mother was Cäcilia Weber
. She moved with the family, first to Munich, then to Vienna, following the burgeoning career of Aloysia. Sophie herself sang at the Burgtheater
in the 1780–1781 season, but apparently did not make any kind of long-term success as a singer.
When Mozart moved to Vienna in 1781, and lodged for a time with the Weber family, he seems to have flirted with both Sophie and Constanze (whom he eventually courted and married). The incomplete Allegro in B-flat K. 400, written by Mozart at this time, contains (in W. Dean Sutcliffe]'s words) "a self-contained melodic episode in G minor, with the names of Sophie and Co[n]stanze Weber inscribed above a pair of prolonged sigh figures." In a letter of 15 December, 1781, Mozart described Sophie as "good-natured but feather-brained." In 1782, when Mozart and Constanze were married, she was the only Weber sister who was present at the ceremony.
In December 1791, when Mozart died, Sophie was 28 years old, and was the only daughter in the family still unmarried. She lived with Cäcilia, but was frequently present in the Mozart household during the composer's final decline and death, and helped Constanze care for her dying husband.
She was married (7 January 1807) in Djakovar, Slavonia
(today called Đakovo, in Croatia
) to Jakob Haibel
(1762–1826), a tenor singer, actor, and composer; he was the author of a successful Singspiel
that was performed many times by the theatrical troupe of Emanuel Schikaneder
. Haibel, who had already left his first wife in 1804 to run away to Croatia with his lover Sophie, was the cathedral choirmaster in Djakovar. Following Haibel's death, Sophie moved to Salzburg
, where Constanze, now widowed from her second marriage, was living. The two lived together until Constanze's death in 1842.
Sophie died in Salzburg in 1846, aged 83.
, for the purpose of helping with the biography of Mozart that Nissen and Constanze were preparing. She was also interviewed by Vincent
and Mary Novello
in 1829 during the journey they undertook to gather information about Mozart. For some of her remembrances, see Death of Mozart
.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...
's wife Constanze
Constanze Mozart
Constanze Mozart was the wife of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.-Early years:Constanze Weber was born in Zell im Wiesental. Her mother was Cäcilia Weber, née Stamm. Her father Fridolin Weber worked as a "double bass player, prompter and music copyist." Fridolin's half-brother was the father of composer...
, and is remembered primarily for the testimony she left concerning the life and death of her brother-in-law.
Life
She was born into a musical family, the youngest of four sisters all of whom became trained singers; two achieved professional fame: the oldest sister Josepha WeberJosepha Weber
Josepha Weber was a German soprano of the classical era...
and the second oldest Aloysia Weber
Aloysia Weber
Maria Aloysia Louise Antonia Weber was a German soprano, remembered primarily for her association with the composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.-Biography:...
. Her mother was Cäcilia Weber
Cäcilia Weber
Cäcilia Cordula Stamm was the mother of Constanze Weber, wife of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.She was born in Mannheim, Germany, the daughter of Johann Otto Stamm, a government secretary and Sophia Elisabeth Wimmer. She married Franz Fridolin Weber on 14 September 1756, and had four daughters:...
. She moved with the family, first to Munich, then to Vienna, following the burgeoning career of Aloysia. Sophie herself sang at the Burgtheater
Burgtheater
The Burgtheater , originally known as K.K. Theater an der Burg, then until 1918 as the K.K. Hofburgtheater, is the Austrian National Theatre in Vienna and one of the most important German language theatres in the world.The Burgtheater was created in 1741 and has become known as "die Burg" by the...
in the 1780–1781 season, but apparently did not make any kind of long-term success as a singer.
When Mozart moved to Vienna in 1781, and lodged for a time with the Weber family, he seems to have flirted with both Sophie and Constanze (whom he eventually courted and married). The incomplete Allegro in B-flat K. 400, written by Mozart at this time, contains (in W. Dean Sutcliffe]'s words) "a self-contained melodic episode in G minor, with the names of Sophie and Co[n]stanze Weber inscribed above a pair of prolonged sigh figures." In a letter of 15 December, 1781, Mozart described Sophie as "good-natured but feather-brained." In 1782, when Mozart and Constanze were married, she was the only Weber sister who was present at the ceremony.
In December 1791, when Mozart died, Sophie was 28 years old, and was the only daughter in the family still unmarried. She lived with Cäcilia, but was frequently present in the Mozart household during the composer's final decline and death, and helped Constanze care for her dying husband.
She was married (7 January 1807) in Djakovar, Slavonia
Slavonia
Slavonia is a geographical and historical region in eastern Croatia...
(today called Đakovo, in Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
) to Jakob Haibel
Jakob Haibel
Jakob Haibel was an Austrian composer, operatic tenor and choirmaster.-Biography:Around 1789, Haibel joined Emanuel Schikaneder’s company of performers at the Freihaus-Theater auf der Wieden. While there, he acted in plays and sang in operas and other musical productions...
(1762–1826), a tenor singer, actor, and composer; he was the author of a successful Singspiel
Singspiel
A Singspiel is a form of German-language music drama, now regarded as a genre of opera...
that was performed many times by the theatrical troupe of Emanuel Schikaneder
Emanuel Schikaneder
Emanuel Schikaneder , born Johann Joseph Schickeneder, was a German impresario, dramatist, actor, singer and composer. He was the librettist of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's opera The Magic Flute and the builder of the Theater an der Wien...
. Haibel, who had already left his first wife in 1804 to run away to Croatia with his lover Sophie, was the cathedral choirmaster in Djakovar. Following Haibel's death, Sophie moved to Salzburg
Salzburg
-Population development:In 1935, the population significantly increased when Salzburg absorbed adjacent municipalities. After World War II, numerous refugees found a new home in the city. New residential space was created for American soldiers of the postwar Occupation, and could be used for...
, where Constanze, now widowed from her second marriage, was living. The two lived together until Constanze's death in 1842.
Sophie died in Salzburg in 1846, aged 83.
Remembrances of Mozart
Sophie's own remembrances of Mozart and his death, described by the Grove Dictionary author as "moving," come from a letter she wrote to Constanze's second husband Georg Nikolaus von NissenGeorg Nikolaus von Nissen
Georg Nikolaus von Nissen was a Danish diplomat and music historian...
, for the purpose of helping with the biography of Mozart that Nissen and Constanze were preparing. She was also interviewed by Vincent
Vincent Novello
Vincent Novello , English musician, son of an Italian who married an English wife, was born in London....
and Mary Novello
Mary Cowden Clarke
Mary Cowden Clarke was an English author.She was the eldest daughter of Vincent Novello...
in 1829 during the journey they undertook to gather information about Mozart. For some of her remembrances, see Death of Mozart
Death of Mozart
The composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died at 1:00 am on 5 December 1791 at the age of 35, following a short illness.-Illness and last days:...
.