Unveiling Antonio Salieri: The True Story Behind the Amadeus Legend

Even though composer Antonio Salieri (born August 18, 1750, in Legnago – died May 7, 1825, in Vienna) made significant contributions to music history, he is often overshadowed by his more renowned contemporary, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Today, he is mainly recognized as the character of a jealous and mediocre schemer in theatre and film who seeks to ruin Mozart by commissioning a ghostly mass. However, few people realize that Antonio Salieri was quite a successful composer during his lifetime, gaining fame all across Europe. Unfortunately, many myths and inaccuracies have distorted the true story of this musical genius from Mozart’s era.

Forman’s Amadeus: A captivating story that strays from the facts

Film director Miloš Forman and screenwriter Peter Shaffer created the dramatic and engaging film Amadeus, which showcases two contrasting figures: the brilliant yet careless Mozart and Salieri, portrayed as his resentful rival. While this narrative works effectively for the movie, it is important to note that the reality was far less straightforward. Salieri and Mozart knew each other and even collaborated on various projects, but their relationship was much more nuanced than depicted in the film. Although Mozart did make some sarcastic comments about Salieri privately, the idea that Salieri systematically sought to undermine him is more of a Hollywood invention than a fact. Nonetheless, thanks to Forman and Amadeus, Salieri enjoyed a “second career” as a captivating figure in the world of music history, rather than just as a composer.

The envy that Salieri supposedly had for the brash and confident Mozart, with his almost divine musical abilities, is simply a fabrication of the imagination. However, it is not solely the fault of Forman and Shaffer—this dramatized narrative began as early as 1830 with Alexander Pushkin, who wrote a play called Mozart and Salieri, in which Salieri even murders Mozart.

A musical talent in Mozart’s era

Antonio Salieri was not a failed outsider; on the contrary, he was quite accomplished. He was born into a wealthy merchant family on August 18, 1750, near Verona, Italy. From an early age, he had a passion for music and was fortunate to meet Florian Leopold Gassmann (1729-1774), a composer and court chaplain from Vienna, when he was just 16 years old in Venice. Gassmann was so impressed with Salieri that he brought him to the imperial court in Vienna, where he received an excellent musical education and got introduced to the heir to the throne, Joseph II.

Salieri eventually became a court composer and played a vital role in training a generation of musicians, including Beethoven, Schubert, and Liszt. He was a key figure in the music scene, and among his pupils was even his own son, Wolfgang Amadeus, Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart. Salieri’s operas packed the concert halls, his compositions received widespread acclaim, and he had a profound influence as a teacher. In 1817, he helped establish the Vienna Conservatory and served as its first director. He passed away in Vienna on May 7, 1825, and you can find his grave in the Vienna Central Cemetery.

Salieri was known for his precision and remarkable memory: he composed the Requiem in C minor for his own funeral in 1804, and it was performed by his students and prominent musicians in Vienna just days after his death.

Why don’t we hear Salieri’s music anymore?

Even though Salieri’s work was well-regarded during his lifetime, his music fell out of favor after he died. This could be attributed to the fact that he did not have any scandals to keep him in the public eye, or perhaps because his style was more solid and less ostentatious compared to others. Regardless, it was the film Amadeus that sparked renewed interest in his music, with Salieri’s operas and chamber pieces making a comeback on concert stages. It’s really time for us to see him not just as a cinematic villain, but also as a composer who truly influenced future generations.

If you are interested in Salieri’s music, now is the ideal time to explore it! Several concert halls and opera houses are featuring his works in their programs, so you can listen to recordings of his operas or discover his historical impact. One significant connection is to Náměšt’ nad Oslavou, where Salieri had a long-term friendship with Count Henry Wilhelm Haugwitz, the owner of the Náměšť estate. Their friendship formed during their studies in Vienna, and according to records, Salieri even visited Náměšť, where he likely participated in leading the castle band. Salieri’s life and contributions are being honored in an exhibition at the Namesti Castle (running from May to November 2025) and also through the Maestro Salieri project. The latter takes place simultaneously in Náměšt’ and at the Dietrichstein Palace in Brno, featuring the first published editions of Salieri’s compositions and a letter that sheds new light on him, challenging the portrayal in Peter Shaffer’s play and Forman’s well-known film.

And if you enjoyed Amadeus, consider watching it again—this time, keep in mind that the real Salieri may have been a much more intriguing figure than the one you saw in the movie. But who knows? After listening to his music, you might think that history and filmmakers have exaggerated his character after all.