Rating: 
Summary: A Play Worth Reading
Review: The book shows the relationship between Salieri, God, and Mozart, the talented musician. Even though the plot is mostly fictional, it shows really nicely how cruel a vow with God can be if one is so grim to get his own success. It's interesting, how this play is connected with true facts, which you only understand knowing a bit of the real history of Mozart.We really liked the play, because it's thrilling and shows some important psychological aspects. Especially the relation between Mozart and his father is quite interesting. It's worth reading, we really do recommend this great play.
Rating:
Summary: So good that I did it.
Review: The play I mean. Not the whole thing (I can't afford that!), but I performed Salieri's part in sections and monologues for my theatre group and small audience. It was surprisingly easy to remember, great fun to do. I even used him as my email address.
But this has nothing to do with the play. What does is it's brilliance in bringing a symphonic musical quality to brilliant historical fiction and Shaffer's typically brilliant Man Vs. God sentiments. Salieri is simply one of the greatest stage parts ever, and Mozart is great fun, too. And the power is universal, whether you identify with the miserable artist plot or not. We'd all like to be something, we'd all like to be the best, but we're not. The pain of it al is that someone else might be.
Now if only I had the budget to do the whole play. Anyone interested?
Rating:
Summary: A captivating marriage of comedy and tragedy
Review: This intelligently written and insightful play takes modern drama to new, unchartered heights. Through his carefully meditated blend of moving original music and innovative stage manipulation, Shaffer is able to execute his own 'take' on the myth that is the life, love and losses of the infamous Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. In doing so, he highlights the theme of creative genious and allows us the readership to gain understanding of the creative mindset. And through priveledged glances into the wars of the internal mind and poetic symbolism, we are able to view the protagonists not as bland 'puppets', but as three dimensional characters. Ingeniously written. A veritable feast of comic insights and puesdo-tragic episodes. Amadeus can not fail to please.
Rating:
Summary: A captivating marriage of comedy and tragedy
Review: This intelligently written and insightful play takes modern drama to new, unchartered heights. Through his carefully meditated blend of moving original music and innovative stage manipulation, Shaffer is able to execute his own 'take' on the myth that is the life, love and losses of the infamous Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. In doing so, he highlights the theme of creative genious and allows us the readership to gain understanding of the creative mindset. And through priveledged glances into the wars of the internal mind and poetic symbolism, we are able to view the protagonists not as bland 'puppets', but as three dimensional characters. Ingeniously written. A veritable feast of comic insights and puesdo-tragic episodes. Amadeus can not fail to please.
Rating:
Summary: Good Business Reading
Review: This is a marvelous play under any circumstances. If you haven't seen it yet, go see it. The movie is fine but doesn't do the language justice... nor the music if the stage production is done well. It's worth owning because some of the speeches are as resonant with us today in the modern area as Shakespeare's were in years past. And this play has a special significance for those in the business world. It is the greatest lesson in humility that can be taught. Salieri delivers the line near the beginning that strikes at the hear of all business leaders: We [musicians and composers] gave them [political leaders] processions for their strutting, serenades for their rutting, high horns for their hunting, and drums for their wars. Trumpets sounded when they entered the world and trumpets groaned when they left it! The savor of their days remain behind because of us, our music still remembered while their politics are long forgotten. Tell me, before you call us servants, who served whom? And who, I wonder, in your generations, will immortalize you? Is this not the final goal of the business leader? Not to be wealthy but to be relevant? To make a mark on your world that will not be dimmed by time? To change things irrevocably because you and no other were there? It is to this pride and to this ambition that Amadeus speaks. Salieri, as gifted as he is, is dimmed by the talents of another. A wholly undeserving other. And it throws Salieri into a spiral of hatred, of vengeance, of energy devoted to conflict. It is a lesson that we who seek to change the business world should heed. Instead of extirpation, should not Salieri have sought other means? Could not Mozart have been controlled, manipulated, exploited to serve the aims of Salieri? Consuming vengeance is seldom useful in the business world and overweening pride leads ultimately and inevitably to downfall. Humility is the hardest lesson for the elite to learn. Learn it from this play and the life Salieri rather than at the end of your own. READ MORE AT INCHOATUS.COM
Rating:
Summary: Not liking it for those reasons is just STUPID!!
Review: This is an intelligent and incredible play buy a brilliant author. If you don't like it, the least you could do is come up with a legitimate reason. This play is a true original. Schaffer knokws how to create and evolve tragic characters, situations, and emotions that few contemporary playwrites can. Not as good as Equus, but still very very good.
Rating:
Summary: Much better than the movie...
Review: This is, quite simply, one of the finest modern plays ever written for the theater. If you think you don't have to read it because you've seen the movie, think again. They RADICALLY altered the stage play for the screen. The film may look better - but most of the brillance of Peter Shaffer's incredible dialogue is lost. Some of it still remains in the scenes where Salieri is an old man. The play, however, is almost a dramatic monologue delivered by Salieri. Shaffer has an uncanny knack for dialogue and this is his second best play next to Equus. The funny thing is, even though they gutted the text for the film, the film is actually much LONGER than the play. If you liked the movie, have any interest in Mozart - or any interest in great plays, for that matter - read Amadeus.
Rating:
Summary: Much better than the movie...
Review: This is, quite simply, one of the finest modern plays ever written for the theater. If you think you don't have to read it because you've seen the movie, think again. They RADICALLY altered the stage play for the screen. The film may look better - but most of the brillance of Peter Shaffer's incredible dialogue is lost. Some of it still remains in the scenes where Salieri is an old man. The play, however, is almost a dramatic monologue delivered by Salieri. Shaffer has an uncanny knack for dialogue and this is his second best play next to Equus. The funny thing is, even though they gutted the text for the film, the film is actually much LONGER than the play. If you liked the movie, have any interest in Mozart - or any interest in great plays, for that matter - read Amadeus.
Rating:
Summary: Better than the movie
Review: This play from which the movie was made (with the screenplay by Mr. Shaffer) is "bold and brilliant". Shaffer, though playing on a legend, creates a wonderful chilling modern play with hints of humor (as any good drama has). It is a wonderful read and an experience to see performed.
Rating:
Summary: a masterpiece of modern theatre
Review: This play is great. Shaffer has created a play in which drama, intrigue, suspense,sexuality, jealousy, revenge, and slight comedy all have an important part in the storyline. I read this play as an assignment for a drama class, but ended up falling in love with it. In my opinion, the second gretest drama of all time (behind "Death Of A Salesman"). I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a good read or a thrilling tale.
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