AMBITION

Here is what Madame de Pompadour thought, when she danced with King Louis XV.
Music from Mozart (La Tartine Beurée)

Don´t you think it´s magic, how our hearts entwine,
from this moment on I´m yours, and I´ll make you mine.

Closer to me but don´t step on my foot.
Just hold me tight, my King, oh very good !

Now I look into your eyes, enchanted gaze,
Don´t stop my ambitious rise, in silk and lace.

I´m irresistable, oozing my charm.
I put a spell on you, surrender and disarm.
You´re at my mercy now, trapped helplessly
one little kiss and then, you belong to me.

Don´t you think it´s magic,
how our hearts entwine,
from this moment on I´m yours,
and you, my King, are mine.

Madame de Pompadour (Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson, 1721–1764) and King Louis XV of France (1710–1774) began their relationship on February 25, 1745, at a masked ball in the Palace of Versailles’ Hall of Mirrors, celebrating the Dauphin’s marriage to Maria Teresa of Spain. Jeanne-Antoinette, dressed as Diana the Huntress, captivated Louis, costumed as a yew tree. Their flirtation led to her becoming his official mistress by March 1745, titled Marquise de Pompadour. Their romantic phase faded by 1750 due to her health issues, but she remained his trusted confidante, shaping French culture (e.g., patronizing the arts, supporting the Encyclopédie, founding Sèvres porcelain) and influencing politics during the War of the Austrian Succession. Their bond was driven by ambition, hers to rise from bourgeois origins to court prominence, his to enhance France’s prestige through her cultural and diplomatic savvy.

Pompadour’s Ambition: Jeanne-Antoinette, born into a bourgeois family, was groomed from childhood to rise in society. Her charm, intellect, and calculated allure secured her place as Louis’s mistress and a key influencer at court, shaping French culture (e.g., patronizing the arts, supporting the Encyclopédie, founding Sèvres porcelain).

Louis’s Ambition: As king, Louis XV sought to maintain France’s grandeur despite political challenges (e.g., the War of the Austrian Succession, 1740–1748). He admired Pompadour’s ability to project power through elegance, relying on her to bolster his court’s prestige.

Mutual Dynamic: Their relationship thrived on shared ambition, her to transcend her origins, him to enhance his reign’s legacy through her influence. This theme highlights their partnership’s glamour and strategic alliance, distinct from the romantic passion of lust (Heloise/Abelard) or the destructive jealousy (Ava/Frank).

Mozart - La Tartine Beurée

Download Sheetmusic (PDF) from here:
Wolgang Amadeus Mozart - La Tartine Beurée [40 KB]