Shaffer, Peter: 1926-2016

Amadeus, 1979 - Information about the Book

General Information | Facts | Articles

General Information
- The play, brought to life with the music of Mozart, is a tale of jealousy and betrayal…and perhaps even murder.
- Peter Shaffer was inspired to write Amadeus by several factors. He was particularly influenced by Alexander Pushkin’s play Mozart and Salieri, which he supplemented with extensive historical research. Shaffer was intrigued by the contrast between Mozart’s sublime music and the vulgarity of his personal letters, which he described as childlike and puerile. This dichotomy between Mozart’s genius and his immature behavior fascinated Shaffer and became a central theme in the play. Additionally, Shaffer’s lifelong interest in classical music and the dramatic potential of the rumored rivalry between Mozart and Salieri played a significant role in shaping the narrative of Amadeus.
- Information from Wikipedia
- Information from StageAgent
Facts
- Awards:
  
  Some of the most notable awards are:
  Tony Awards: Best Play (1981)
  Drama Desk Awards: Outstanding Play (1981)
  Evening Standard Theatre Awards: Best Play (1980)
  Laurence Olivier Awards: Best New Play (1981)
  Outer Critics Circle Awards: Outstanding Broadway Play (1981)
  New York Drama Critics' Circle: Best Play (1981)
  Developed by ChatGPT AI
- Characters
- Topics
  
  Artistic Genius and Mediocrity
  The central conflict revolves around the contrast between the divine musical genius of Mozart and the mediocre talents of Salieri. It examines the question of why God bestows immense talent on some while denying it to others. Salieri's jealousy and obsession with destroying Mozart's success stems from his inability to reconcile Mozart's prodigious gifts with his own perceived mediocrity.
  Envy and Jealousy
  Salieri's envy and jealousy of Mozart's talents drive the plot and Salieri's descent into madness and villainy. His inability to accept Mozart's superiority leads him to seek revenge through underhanded means, revealing the destructive power of envy.
  
  Faith and the Divine
  The play grapples with questions of faith, God's role in bestowing talents, and humanity's relationship with the divine. Salieri struggles to understand why God would grant such genius to the godless Mozart while denying it to the religious Salieri.
  
  Rivalry and Obsession
  The intense rivalry and Salieri's obsessive hatred of Mozart drive the narrative. Salieri's fixation on ruining Mozart consumes him, leading to his downfall and madness.
  
  Creativity and Genius
  Mozart's effortless creativity and musical brilliance are contrasted with Salieri's labored and mediocre compositions. The play explores the nature of artistic genius and the mysteries behind its origins.
  
  Fame and Legacy
  The play examines the pursuit of fame, legacy, and immortality through art. Salieri's actions are driven by his desire for lasting recognition, which he believes can only be achieved by destroying his rival Mozart.
  
  Developed by Perplexity AI
Articles
- Analysis: "Shaffer allows us to see into the mind and imagination of Salieri as he schemes and plots Mozart’s demise."
- The theological interpretation: "Through Salieri's narration, which is built like a confession, the audience assumes a divine role, because it is asked to judge in God's place."
- The Cain and Abel motive: "Another biblical reference is to Mozart as the Prodigal Son."
- The Christ motive: "The title Amadeus, which can mean "love of God" or "beloved by God", would suggest that Mozart is a metaphorical son of God."
- Psychological and psychoanalytic elements: "The play shows two men of widely differing temperaments linked by a common spiritual bond"
- The conflict of personalities: "There is always a conflict between opposing elements: east and west collide; faithfulness is played against faithlessness, etc."
- The view of the artist: "One aspect of the play is the changing role of the artist in society. "
- Historical authenticity: "The play sometimes diverges from historical facts in order to explore more fundamental and universal human issues and to achieve a dramatic effect. Only on the surface does it appear to be a composer's biography."
- A Feud Between Bitter Rivals: "In the play, Salieri deliberately sabotages Mozart out of jealousy for a gift of a man he regards as amoral. However, there is no historical evidence of anything more than a friendly, artistic rivalry between the two composers." Marija Vucic; August 2, 2021