The Italian master made a stay of
several months' duration in Vienna, and attended a performance of
Fidelio.
CHAPTER VI
THE ETERNAL FEMININE
If that beauty of Shiraz would take my heart in hand, I would give
for her dark mole Samarkand and Bokhara.
--HAFIZ.
In Beethoven's time, Vienna was the gayest capital in Europe, the Paris
of the world. The population was 300,000, every nationality in Europe
being represented. It was cosmopolitan in the widest sense. The Germans
of course predominated; then there were Hungarians, Italians, Sclavs,
Sczechs, Magyars, Poles and Turks. The Italian element was particularly
strong, and these southern and eastern races with their tendency toward
art in any form, and the particular bias of the Italians toward music
had an important influence on the Germans, modifying their seriousness.
The theatres were splendidly equipped and there were at least four large
orchestras. Concerts for the general public were not common, the
orchestras being required for operatic performances in private houses,
which were splendidly given, as well as for state balls and other
functions.
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