Amadeus

Since Mozart’s death in 1791 (at age 35), people have argued over the cause of his demise.  Was Mozart murdered, or did he simply succumb to illness?  200 years of speculation, emerging evidence and advances in forensic science have not put the matter to rest.  

The most theatrical (but unlikely) explanation accuses Mozart’s colleague Antonio Salieri – a man whose jealously equaled his admiration - as the murderer.  In 1830, Alexander Pushkin wrote a short dramatic poem based on this rumor titled Mozart and Salieri.  (Chicago Dramatists Theatre mounted Vladimir Nabokov’s translation of the poem in 2004 under the direction of Zeljko Djukic.)  Pushkin’s work inspired the 1897 Rimsky-Korsakov opera by that name and Peter Shaffer’s 1979 play Amadeus, which Shaffer adapted for film in 1984.

Under the direction of Miloš Forman (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest), the production team of Amadeus created a timeless film to exhibit the timeless music of W. A. Mozart.  With choreography and opera staging by Twyla Tharp, costume design by Theodor Pistek, and production design by Patrizia Von Brandstein, the film achieves an undeniable visual excellence.

     

Casting directors Mary Goldberg and Maggie Cartier cleverly chose Tom Hulce, who had recently appeared in the frat house farce National Lampoon’s Animal House, as the young, vulgar Mozart.  F. Murray Abraham (All the President’s Men, Scarface) played the serious, vengeful Salieri.  Both actors created their roles to great acclaim.  Other better-known-now cast members include Jeffrey Jones as Emperor Joseph II (Ferris Bueller's Day Off), Christine Ebersole as Katerina Cavalieri (Grey Gardens) and Cynthia Nixon as Lorl (Sex and the City).

The music of Amadeus was supervised by illustrious conductor Sir Neville Marriner, and performed by the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields.  The film features a mess of Mozart’s symphonies, concertos and operas, including The Abduction from the Seraglio, The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, The Magic Flute (with the “Queen of the Night aria” sung by June Anderson) and his unfinished Requiem.

Amadeus is not only a triumph of the 1980s (as evidenced by its eight Oscar wins), but of all 20^th century film (as evidenced by its AFI ranking).  Salieri has survived two centuries aside the legendary life and music of Mozart.  Perhaps this biopic, nearing its 30^th anniversary, will do the same.