This January 27 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. While we usually think of Mozart as making music rather than speeches, I can think of one occasion when he made a speech that was as short -- just four words -- as it was appropriate.

The occasion was the opening of his opera, The Marriage of Figaro, in Prague in 1787. The work had initially been performed in Vienna, where it had received a cool reception. But the opening night audience in Prague greeted the new opera with an enthusiasm akin to rapture. When he took his curtain call, the composer was moved to tears by the tremendous ovation he received. He opened his arms and exclaimed: "Meine Prager verstehen mich!" -- "My Praguers understand me!"

They did indeed. Shortly afterwards, Mozart wrote to a friend: "They talk here about nothing but Figaro. Nothing but Figaro is played, trumpeted, sung, whistled. No other opera but Figaro is frequented, Figaro forever. It is certainly a great honor for me."

The success of Figaro led to Mozart's being commissioned to write his next opera, Don Giovanni. But that's another story -- and one without a speech.