Weber, Fridolin
Weber Aloysia Luisa Maria Antonia, married name Lange, *1760 (?) Zell im Wiesental, †8 June 1839 Salzburg, German singer (soprano), daughter of Fridolin. She studied under G.J. Vogler in Mannheim. She made her debut in 1778 in Munich (Parthenia in A. Schweitzer’s opera Alceste), then developed her vocal career on the German and Italian opera stages in Vienna, singing, among others, in operas by F.-A. Philidor, A.-E.-M. Grétry, P. Anfossi (Clorinda in Il curioso indiscreto, Burgtheater 1783), Ch.W. Gluck and W.A. Mozart (Constance in The Abduction from the Seraglio, Kärntnertortheater 1784–1788, Madame Herz at the premiere of Der Schauspieldirektor, Schönbrunn 1786, Donna Anna in the Vienna premiere of Don Giovanni, Burgtheater 1788 and Sextus in La clemenza di Tito, Burgtheater 1795). She performed many times in public and private concerts with Mozart, including taking part in a performance of G.F. Händel’s Messiah in Mozart’s instrumentation and under Mozart’s conducting (Vienna 1789). Aloysia Weber was Mozart’s first great love. He met her in the 1777/1778 season in Mannheim. In correspondence with her father, he praised her “beautiful, clear voice” and her proficiency on the piano “in the galant style” (letter from 17 January 1778). To release his feelings for her, as well as because of her vocal virtuosity, he composed 7 concert arias for her, including the recitative and rondo KV 419 and the excellent “concerto vocale” KV 538.
Literature: J.H. Eibl Wer hat das Engagement Aloysia Webers an die Wiener Oper vermittelt, Mozart’s Jahrbuch 1962/63.