Jonathan Delatizky <DELATZ%MIT-OZ@MIT-MC.ARPA> (11/26/84)
The music in "Amadeus" was probably its best feature. The movie itself seemed to me (and to several friends) pretentious and heavy-handed. I did not see the play, which most critics seemed to think was superior. The basic plot line, that Salieri poisoned Mozart, has been quite effectively refuted in recent years, and remains no more than a historical curiosity. I recently heard a report on "All Things Considered" or somewhere similar that the weather in Vienna at the time of Mozart's death was fine, and that the story that he was buried in an unknown pauper's grave is probably another questionable legend. The commentator (I don't remember who it was) said that a more likely explanation for our lack of knowledge about the site of his grave is that Constanze (his widow) failed to keep up the maintenance payments to the cemetry, so they moved him out to recycle the space! To Peter Gayde: I'm not sure how to send net mail directly to you. As another Mahler enthusiast, please try to mail me directly, and we can find a suitable path. I haven't heard Abbado's Mahler 2, but like his recording of #4 (with the VPO) as well as some live BSO broadcasts of other symphonies. More later... ...Jon Delatizky delatz%mit-oz@mit-mc.arpa -------
jeffw@tekecs.UUCP (Jeff Winslow) (11/27/84)
I have to agree with those who were less impressed by Amadeus. The best part of the film for me was that there were several scenes of Mozart either rehearsing or writing his music. In the latter, the soundtrack was the finished piece in question - not very realistic maybe, but a good way of getting a lot of music into the film. How many filmed composer's biographies have there been with hardly any music by the composer at all? Another plus was Salieri - he spoke of Mozart's music in a way that a musician actually might. No philosophical BS, just appreciation for fine sound and structure in sound. I also enjoyed the Emperor - not at all the pompous figure one might expect. (There it is.) The biggest fault of the movie, to me, was not historical inaccuracy. I don't think it was represented as being historically accurate. I think it was supposed to show an insight into Mozart's character, and in that it failed. It showed very well the side of M. that may not be well known - let's just say he'd enthusiastically unrotate everything on net.jokes. But there was very little done to make him a sympathetic character. In fact, in spite of my preconceptions and the beautiful music, I came away thinking he was a jerk. Oh well, just remember - different tastes vary! Jeff Winslow