Aloysia Weber
Maria Aloysia Antonia Weber entered the world in Zell im Wiesental around 1760. Her father Fridolin Weber worked as a prompter and music copyist for the local court. Her mother Cäcilia Stamm came from a family of musicians. The Weber household contained four daughters who would all find careers in opera. Josepha Weber became the first Queen of the Night. Constanze Weber married Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Sophie Weber remained a singer throughout her life. Aloysia Weber grew up surrounded by professional musicians and daily rehearsals.
The Weber family relocated to Mannheim shortly after Aloysia's birth. She made her operatic debut in Munich during 1778 at the Court Theater. Her annual salary reached 1000 florins while her father earned only 600 florins. The following year she joined the National Singspiel project in Vienna under Emperor Joseph II. The entire family moved to Vienna in September 1779. Her father died just one month after their arrival. He had worked briefly as a ticket-taker before his sudden death. Aloysia continued singing successfully across the next two decades.
Aloysia Weber married actor Joseph Lange on the 31st of October 1780 at the Theater am Kärntnertor. This was his second marriage since his first wife died in 1779. He agreed to pay her mother an advance of 900 florins plus 700 florins annually. The couple lived together until 1795 when they ceased cohabitation. She performed at the Burgtheater starting in 1782 but lasted only eight months there. Disagreements over salary and role distribution caused her departure. She returned to sing occasionally at both the Kärntnertortheater and Burgtheater. Her sister Constanze later organized performances for her in Salzburg.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart spent time in Mannheim around 1777 seeking employment opportunities. He taught Aloysia Weber how to sing despite her advanced status. Mozart himself had been a trained soprano until age thirteen. He instructed her on rapid note passages while preserving her natural cantabile style. He wrote to his father about bringing her through grand aria passages. An examination piece called Alcandro lo confesso emerged from these lessons. She sang it accompanied by herself after two days of practice. Mozart admitted she performed exactly as he intended. He believed this aria would bring credit wherever she traveled.
Joachim-Daniel Preisler visited the Lange home during a tour of European opera houses. He heard pregnant Aloysia Weber singing without performance obligations. His diary described her voice as something exceptional yet not quite equal to Danish singer Caterine Möller. Preisler noted her high range and delicate execution impressed any impartial critic. She could handle the longest difficult parts better than Italian songstresses. The well-known Kapellmeister Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had taught her to accompany from scores. She played interludes like a professional conductor during private gatherings. Her theoretical knowledge stood out among contemporary singers.
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Common questions
Where was Maria Aloysia Antonia Weber born and when?
Maria Aloysia Antonia Weber entered the world in Zell im Wiesental around 1760. Her father Fridolin Weber worked as a prompter and music copyist for the local court.
When did Aloysia Weber make her operatic debut in Munich?
She made her operatic debut in Munich during 1778 at the Court Theater. Her annual salary reached 1000 florins while her father earned only 600 florins.
Who did Aloysia Weber marry and on what date?
Aloysia Weber married actor Joseph Lange on the 31st of October 1780 at the Theater am Kärntnertor. The couple lived together until 1795 when they ceased cohabitation.
How did Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart teach Aloysia Weber to sing?
Mozart taught Aloysia Weber how to sing despite her advanced status by instructing her on rapid note passages while preserving her natural cantabile style. He wrote to his father about bringing her through grand aria passages and believed this aria would bring credit wherever she traveled.
What did Joachim-Daniel Preisler say about Aloysia Weber's voice?
Joachim-Daniel Preisler described her voice as something exceptional yet not quite equal to Danish singer Caterine Möller. He noted her high range and delicate execution impressed any impartial critic and that she could handle the longest difficult parts better than Italian songstresses.