At Munich where they first halted, Wolfgang sought an engagement at the Elector’s Court.  He had an audience at the Nymphenburg, a magnificent palace on the outskirts of the city.  The Elector said there was no vacancy; he did not know but later it might be possible to make one, after Mozart had been to Italy and had made a name for himself.  With these words the Elector turned away.  Mozart stood as if stunned.  To Italy, when he had concertized there for about seven years, and had been showered with honors!  It was too much.  He shook off the dust of Munich and he and his mother went on to Mannheim.  Here was a more congenial atmosphere.  The Elector maintained a fine orchestra, and with the conductor, Cannabich, Mozart became great friends, giving music lessons to his daughter.  But he could not seem to secure a permanent appointment at Court, worthy his genius and ability.  Money became more scarce and the father and sister must make many sacrifices at home to send money to maintain mother and son.  With the best of intentions Wolfgang failed to make his way except as a piano teacher.  The father had resorted to the same means of securing the extra sums required, and wrote quite sharply to the son to bestir himself and get something settled for the future.

For the young genius, Mannheim possessed a special attraction of which the father knew nothing.  Shortly after their arrival in the city, Wolfgang became acquainted with the Weber family.  The two oldest daughters, Aloysia, fifteen, and Constanza, fourteen, were charming girls just budding into womanhood.  Aloysia had a sweet, pure voice, and was studying for the stage; indeed she had already made her debut in opera.  It was not at all strange that young Mozart, who often joined the family circle, should fall in love with the girl’s fair beauty and fresh voice, should write songs for her and teach her to sing them as he wished.  They were much together and their early attraction fast ripened into love.  Wolfgang formed a project for helping the Webers, who were in rather straitened circumstances, by undertaking a journey to Italy in company with Aloysia and her father; he would write an opera in which Aloysia should appear as prima donna.  Of this brilliant plan he wrote his father, saying they could stop in Salzburg on the way, when the father and Nannerl could meet the fair young singer, whom they would be sure to love.

Leopold Mozart was distracted at news of this project.  He at once wrote, advising his son to go to Paris and try there to make a name and fame for himself.  The son dutifully yielded at once.  With a heavy heart he prepared to leave Mannheim, where he had spent such a happy winter, and his love dream came to an end.  It was a sad parting with the Weber household, for they regarded Wolfgang as their greatest benefactor.

The hopes Leopold Mozart had built on Wolfgang’s success in Paris were not to be realized.  The enthusiasm he had aroused as a child prodigy was not awarded to the matured musician.  Three months passed away in more or less fruitless endeavor.  Then the mother, who had been his constant companion in these trials and travels, fell seriously ill.  On July 3, 1778, she passed away in her son’s arms.