Today would have been my younger brother's 60th birthday, had he not died 100 days ago. He was a complicated man, endearing and infuriating in equal measures. You don't expect the younger to die before you.
Rest in peace.
Most people have heard of Antonio Salieri (if they have heard of him at all) as the sort-of villain in the film Mozart. That sells him somewhat short. His Requiem was performed for the first time at his funeral.
The rivalry between Mozart and Salieri is fictional or at least exaggerated it seems.Cinematic license, perhaps?
ReplyDeleteInteresting that what is depicted in a movie becomes factual to many people. For example, Merlot wine sales took a big hit after Paul Giamatti stated in the movie Sideways "We are not drinking any f--ing Merlot" because it reminded him of his ex wife.
Or how about real men eating quiche from the eponymous Playboy article of the 70s? (Though I have no idea of quiche sales figures, before or after...)
Anyway, I am just back from Maine, and, as always, a treat to have a music class waiting!
I offer my sincere condolences.
ReplyDeleteMan, it is tough.
My OCD cries out that the movie was actually called 'Amadeus'.
ReplyDeleteSorry.
Salieri was more of a mentor to Mozart than a rival. Both were highly talented and respected each other's work.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Daniel. Mozart and Salieri actually worked together on at least one composition, and after Mozart's death Salieri arranged with Costanza to teach Mozart's son Franz free of charge (Salieri had a reputation as a top-notch vocal and composition instructor; Beethoven, Liszt, and Schubert were all his students at one time or another). They did have a bit of a rivalry going on here and there during their careers, but that's only to be expected given the circumstances.
ReplyDeleteThe bitter jealousy on Salieri's part portrayed in Amadeus made for a great movie, but it was fiction; by all accounts, the two composers seem to have gotten along quite well. In fact, the only person in the Mozart family who really seems to have personally disliked Salieri was Wolfgang's father, Leopold.