Amadeus
(Peter Shaffer)
Antonio Salieri, the court composer to the Austrian Emperor
Joseph II, finds himself in old age reminiscing about the
past. While Salieri, who invites the audience to remember
him, knows that his compositions are fading in obscurity,
he also knows that his arch rival, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,
even after poverty and ignominious death, continues to
shine in fame and increasing popularity. Salieri than
begins the tale of his own obsession and deep standing
jealous hatred of the young Mozart and how he caused
Mozart?s eventual demise.
Shaffer?s ingenious play shows both composers vying for the
favor of the Emperor in a time of patronage and constant
struggles against poverty and obscurity which occurred
during the Eighteenth Century. The play presents a
passionate portrayal of the young Mozart as both a vulgar
and frivolous young man, but also a poignant genius.
Salieri, constantly jealous of Mozart?s seemingly
effortless genius despite his unprofessional demeanor,
begins to hound Mozart and cause him to lose his influence
with the Emperor and even tries to seduce Mozart?s wife,
Constanze. After the death of Mozart?s father, Salieri
pretends to be his ghost to drive Mozart mad. Shaffer
creates interesting connections between these event and
Mozart?s operas such as The Magic Flute and Don Giovanni.
Finally the strange figure commissions Mozart to create a
death requiem which will be his own, and Mozart, driven to
despair from the haunting of Salieri, dies and is thrown
into an anonymous pauper?s grave.
Mozart?s revenge is sure, however, as his fame grows while
Salieri, old and bitter, finds his own life draw to a close
as a forgotten and mediocre composer.
Resumos Relacionados
- Amadeus
- Amadeus
- Book Of Facts
- Mozart - O GÊnio
- Mozart, Prodigioso
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