Amadeus & Mozart

[Amy Z]

Mercia wrote, on the main list:

>> It reminds a bit of Peter Schaeffer's play
'Amadeus'. When 
I first 
> saw it years ago in London some people behind me
were 
deeply 
> scandalised by the portrait of Mozart. I heard them 
discussing it at 
> the interval after which they left and didn't come
back. 
They 
> couldn't handle a picture of a musical genius as a 
revolting little 
> creep with a purile and smutty sense of humour. Yet
that 
is the 
> whole point of the play. That into this very
unworthy 
vessel God had 
> poured total inspiration, while poor old Salieri who

wanted to offer 
> his talents to the glory of God plodded through life
with 
a very 
> mediocre talent and with never a spark of
inspiration. 
Very unfair 
> but very true to life. 

I agree that Shaffer's theme is very moving, and I
certainly believe that heavenly music can come out of
unheavenly people.  In defense of the people who left,
perhaps they thought it was a bit unfair of Shaffer to
stuff this theme into the person of an actual
historical person who deserves more respect than
Mozart is given in that play.  From the little I know
of the biography of the true W.A.M., reports of his
puerile sense of humor and revolting creepiness are
greatly exaggerated.

Amy Z


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