Wolfgang Versus Amadeus

We have just finished watching the movie Amadeus and I’d like to compare Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to the movie Amadeus. I would also like to discuss the parts of the movie I believe are fiction and what is accurate. I believe most of what is told about Mozart is true in a sense. The movie follows most of the musical characteristics relatively well. The music and stage performances are accurate along with other composer’s operas and music related to Mozart’s music.

On the other hand specifics on Mozart’s life and career are somewhat altered in the movie. In his early years his father did tour with him. Inspiring him and pushing his musical talents. Though the movie portrays him performing on his own on a harpsichord but when the Mozart family grand tour began to travel around Europe, his father Leopold also performed along with his sister nannerl.  In late 1769 Mozart and his father set out for Italy leaving nanner and his mother at home. They returned in early 1771 and were employed by the Salzburg court on their return from there 2nd tour of Italy.

In 1781 began his career in Vienna, began employed for a short time then doing private music jobs. 1782 Mozart was engaged to Constanze and married the same year. One day before leopold letter of permission. Together they had 6 kids, 2 of which survived infancy. In Amadeus they have only one child. All of their children had been born by Mozart’s death and 2 were alive.

Also the relationship between salieri and Mozart is mostly false. The skeam that sallieri hatched was not an actual idea along with him conditioned Mozart to write the death mass. Another thing is the spanned of time that Mozart was bedridden with his final illness was about 2 weeks, when in the movie its only about 24 hours or less.

Many non fiction things were added to the plot of Amadeus though it is still over all a very good movie.