Mozart Meets Hollywood! Mozart Laughs!
Wikimedia Commons
The 1984 film "Amadeus," about the supposed rivalry between Mozart and Antonio Salieri, resulted in greatly increased sales of recordings of the Mozart music featured in the film. But at what cost? Mozart is pictured in the film as a silly, childish boor with a taste for toilet jokes, and a laugh that would stop traffic. As exaggerated as the Mozart portrayal is, it brought popular attention to the composer's great music. We will play some of the musical highlights of that memorable film.