Did rival Court composer Antonio Salieri actually
murder Mozart - whose music to Salieri was the voice of God?
Was it the Freemasons, whose rituals Mozart had
exposed in his last great opera The Magic Flute? Or was Mozart destroyed
by his own demons including the ghost of his terrifying father?
Set amidst the opulence and splendour of 18th Century
Vienna, Peter Shaffer's thrilling, and often wickedly funny play,
pits blazing human ambition against heavenly genius, in a battle
of life and death.
Salieri dedicates his life to God if He will give
him the gift of music only to see God favour Mozart, an obscene
giggling child, whose simplest improvisations are superior to Salieri鈥檚
most agonised creations.
So Salieri declares war on God. He, too, will break
all the commandments, as well as destroy God鈥檚 favoured musician
in revenge, to strike a blow for all the mediocrities of the world,
to strike a blow for us!
The part of Salieri will be played by David Lambert,
that versatile actor who has previously starred at the Maddermarket
in Privates on Parade, A Funny Thing happened on the Way to the
Forum and A Chorus of Disapproval.
Handsome young actor Turlough Lloyd who also appeared
in Forum and Disapproval will play Mozart.
The set is designed by John Stokes whose work is
renowned for its intricate detail and flamboyant style (the backdrop
to the Locrian Ensemble鈥檚 concerts is his).
Glorious Baroque costumes and wigs provide spectacle
and dash.
Amadeus opens at the Maddermarket Theatre on Thursday
27 May and runs until Saturday 5 June.
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