Maria Theresa was born in Vienna in 1717. She was the oldest daughter of Emperor Charles VI. Two of her siblings died, and only she and her sister Marianne lived to be adults. She was very close to her father, who was passionate about music. He was a fabulous composer, and he produced musicals at his court. Charles urged both of his daughters to study music, and they even sang in some of his operas. Maria's music teacher was outstanding, and she was taught voice and musicianship. Some felt that her voice was so beautiful that she could have had an opera career.
Besides her musical training, she received an education by Jesuits, which helped her to grow stronger in the Catholic faith. However, this education did not help her learn to be a good empress! The strongest areas of her education stayed with her, and grew throughout her entire life. These areas were music, Italian poetry, manners, and religion.
Maria Theresa fell madly in love with Francis Steven, heir to Lorraine, while she was young. He was nine years older than she, and attended her father's court for his education. When she was nineteen, her father finally consented that Steven and she be married.
Maria Theresa always remained faithful to her husband even though he was not faithful to her. She had extreme self-control and common sense, especially with her husband. They had sixteen children, and she always made sure their family life was happy. Steven's longest lasting affair was with Countess Wilhelmina Auersperg, and when he died, Maria Theresa gave the Countess a big sum of money because she knew her husband had promised it.
Empress at twenty-three, and despite her own self-confidence, Maria Theresa had to prove herself as a leader to the rest of the world. She was a very generous and loving woman, but had no tolerance for non Catholics. The ideas of Enlightenment were ideas she did not agree with. When she became Empress she got rid of her father's advisers and appointed her own. She was a wonderfully effective administrator because of her honesty and her dislike for greed and selfishness.
Maria Theresa's court was known for its wonderful music, but she based her opinion of musicians more on performance qualities rather than actual talent. As long as the performer gave a good performance in the traditional style, she loved them. Maria Theresa expected her artists (musicians, poets, artists, painters) to be able to perform embellished themes in an elegant manner. She was a patron of entertainers, and not of the arts.
Maria Theresa doubled the number of small town peasants that were considered to be brilliant musicians. Peasants came from all over to make a career for themselves in her court. Only the very lucky and talented would make it. Haydn and Gluck are examples of such people.
Italian composers were her favorite, and even her favorite German composer, Christoph Willibald, had been greatly influenced by Italian music. Maria Theresa was not impressed by the like of Bach, Handel, Haydn, or Mozart. Mozart and his sister even performed in her court while they were young, but once Mozart grew up, she did not care for him anymore. Maria Theresa did not even realize the greatness of Gluck, who was one of her favorite musicians.
Her son, Archduke Ferdinand realized Mozart's genius, but when he discussed being a patron of Mozart, Maria Theresa was against it. She felt he was useless, and would just be a financial burden on her son. Some blame Mozart's miserable existence on her. They say Mozart would have lived a longer, happier life had he had more encouragement and support at this young age. It is also thought that Mozart's The Magic Flute was actually about certain court members, specifically Maria Theresa.
Haydn was first discovered by Maria Theresa's court, but she never really liked or accepted him. She did like his instrumental music, but because he was just starting out, she did not support him. It was Maria's chief court poet, Pietro Mestastasio, that was amazed by Haydn. Haydn had a good life at court until he lost his voice at age seventeen. He was forced to wander the streets with nothing. This shows that even some of the most brilliant artists could leave Maria Theresa's court poor and hungary. Haydn had a brother Michael who Maria Theresa loved. He sang a Salve Regina for her and she loved it so much she gave him twenty-four golden ducats. When he was twenty he became the Kapellmeister to the Bishop of Grosswardein in Hungary. Michael was another peasant who went on to make something of himself.
Maria Theresa did enjoy the work of Niccolo Jommelli. He was a highly reputable opera composer that performed his opera, Didone, for her in 1748. She loved every bit of his work.
Maria Theresa's court was known throughout history as a magnificent place for music. She changed the education system of the time to include music in every child's curriculum. Many changes took place during her rule, but she will forever be remembered for her music.