In a rural asylum in 1823, the elderly Antonio Salieri forces his caretakers to summon a priest. When the man arrives, he is given a sample of several old tunes by Salieri, only one of which he recognizes: Eine kleine Nachtmusik. Dismayed by the realization that no one remembers his work, Salieri asks for a confession. He declares that he is responsible for the murder of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Flashbacks show Salieri in 1781 in his prime, as Court Composer to the new Austrian emperor Joseph II in Vienna. A deeply religious man, Salieri attributes his success to a childhood vow that he would serve God in life. He is initially thrilled by the chance to meet Mozart, assuming that the famous composer must be a pious man like himself. But to his horror, Mozart turns out to be a drunken, obscene, and childish man who takes an instant dislike to Salieri and his "popular" music.
2
"Episode 2"
Julian Farino
Joe Barton
22December2025(2025-12-22)
Unable to comprehend that a fool like Mozart could have talent surpassing his, Salieri tells the priest that he chose to renounce God, swearing to do all in his power to destroy Mozart and his reputation. In 1783, Mozart is determined to prove that he can earn a living as a performer and composer against the wishes of his father Leopold, who is angered by his son abandoning a life of secure employment in Salzburg. Salieri is alarmed by Mozart's increasingly successful public concerts, his stream of steady commissions from wealthy clients, and his growing favor in the eyes of Joseph II. Flush with wealth, Mozart marries against his father's wishes to Constanze Weber. Salieri decides to ingratiate himself with Mozart by pretending to be the young man's friend. Secretly, however, he begins spreading rumors of Mozart's crude manners and profilgacy. He also resorts to bribing Mozart's housekeeper, learning of a great new work in progress.
3
"Episode 3"
Julian Farino
Joe Barton
23December2025(2025-12-23)
In 1786, Salieri's schemes enable him to learn of Mozart's new project: an opera entitled The Marriage of Figaro, inspired by an old French play banned by the Imperial Court for its criticism of monarchy. Seizing the opportunity, Salieri attempts to humiliate Mozart by revealing the opera to Joseph II. The Emperor allows the opera to be performed with modifications, but Mozart is equally disappointed when he's told his work has "too many notes". The opera is closed after only a few performances, and Mozart's reputation begins to suffer as Salieri's rumors and his own eccentric behavior scare off many potential clients; he barely convinces the Emperor to give him the paid position of teaching the Princess Elizabeth. On a visit to Salzburg, Mozart is reprimanded by Leopold for failing to take care of his wife and son, and for abandoning his late mother before her death. Constanze tells him he can either change his behavior or she will be forced to leave him.
4
"Episode 4"
Alice Seabright
Joe Barton
24December2025(2025-12-24)
By 1787, Mozart is impoverished, stricken with complications from alcoholism, and out of favor with Joseph II. Clinging to fading hopes of reviving his career, Mozart strives to compose a new opera. Returning home from a drunken bender one evening, he learns from Constanze of Leopold's death. Overcome with grief, he writes Don Giovanni. Salieri again uses his influence to ensure the opera is a flop but is enraptured by seeing the spirit of Leopold and his difficult relationship with his son embodied by Don Giovanni. As he relates to the priest, the experience sparks inspiration for a final scheme to not only destroy Mozart, but to usurp his place. Disguised in a mask and costume, Salieri visits Mozart and convinces him that he has a commission for a Requiem. Despite having already taken another commission to write an opera for the commoners' theater, Mozart accepts Salieri's offer.
5
"Episode 5"
Alice Seabright
Joe Barton
25December2025(2025-12-25)
Salieri explains his plan: once the Requiem is complete, he would poison Mozart and then, at his funeral, debut the piece as his own. The old man declares that not only would he have Mozart's fame, but God would be forced to watch. In 1791, Constanze abandons her husband, denouncing him for his selfishness. Though Mozart's new opera is at last a success, his failing health soon leaves him bedridden and unable to compose. Salieri races to Mozart's bedside and attempts to complete the Requiem on his behalf. The two men reconcile, as a feverish Mozart thanks Salieri for being the only true friend he ever had. Constanze's unexpected return distracts Salieri, and by the time he returns to Mozart, the great composer is dead. Salieri succumbs to despair and declares himself "patron saint of mediocrities" as he is led away. Several years later, the Russian playwright Pushkin learns of Salieri's written account of his "confession" and decides, even though it cannot be proved, that it would make for an excellent plot.
Production
The project was reported to be in development in November 2022 with Two Cities Television and screenwriter Joe Barton.[2]
Writing for The Critic, Australian composer Alexander Voltz viewed the series less favourably, questioning its screenplay, casting and original score, and describing it as "without authentic intention".[14]Lucy Mangan, for The Guardian, was equally critical, awarding the series two stars, stating "this Mozart series is a pale, petty version of the movie it’s based on".[15]
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
