Eccentricities of Mozart

Eccentricities of Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Mozart had occasion to come to Paris at the time he was engaged in the composition of his opera of Don Juan. One day, after working several hours in his closet, he cast a glance at his watch. It was already five o'clock. That was the hour the maestro usually dined at. He, therefore, hastened to dress, and proceeded towards a restaurant at he Palais Royal; but, whilst on his way, a new idea arose, and developed itself in his mind, and absorbed him so completely, that it was involuntarily, and only from habit, that he perused the bill of fare which the owner of the restaurant came and presented him.

"Garcon, un potage au Vermicelli!" exclaimed he. The potage was brought, but he touched it not. A quarter of an hour elapsed, and whilst his head was in a ferment, and his imagination soared in the high spheres of the ideal and poetry, he heeded not the cooling potage.

At length, after another quarter of an hour of meditation, he called for a fried sole. The potage was removed, and a nice, well done, and tempting sole took its place, without attracting the attention, or exciting the sensuality of the dreaming musician.

Six dishes were successfully demanded, brought, and treated by Mozart with the same indifference. The waiter was astounded at the manners and deportment of his odd customer, but thought it was useless making any remarks to one he considered mad.

Two hours had elapsed since the composer's arrival, and yet, his forehead resting on his hands, he had not emerged from his reverie.

Suddenly, however, he raised his head, his countenance beamed with pride and satisfaction, he emptied his purse into the waiter's hands, rushed from his seat, and left the room, exclaiming, "At length I have it!"

Mozart had just found the finale to the third act of Don Juan.

Source: NZCPNA 2/8/1842