Salieri (shaken; to the Audience) And then. right away, the concert began.

I beard it through the door - some serenade: at first only vaguely-too

horrified to attend. But presently the sowld insisted a solenm Adagio.
in EFlat.

Itstarted simplycnough:justapollcin thclowestregistm-bassoonsand

t.sset horns- like a rusty sqoeezebox. It woald have been comic except
for tbe slowne~, which gave it instead a sort of serenity. A.00 then
suddmly, high above it, sounded a single note on the oboe.

Wehtarit

It bung tba:e unwavering, piercing me through. till txcathcouJd hold it no

longer, and a clarinet ~wit out of me, and sweetened it into a phrase
of such delight it had me trembling. The light flickered in the room. My
eyes clouded! (With ever-lncreasinx emotion andvigour) Thesqueezebox
poaned loucla'. and ova- it the higher instruments wailed and warb~
throwing lines of wund around me -

long lines of pain around and

through me-Ah. the pain! Painu I had never known it. I called up to my

sblrp old God 'What is this? ... What?,. But the squcci.ebox went on and
on. and the pain cut deeper into my shaking bead, until suddenly I was
J\1Dlling--

He bolts ow ofthe chair and runs across the staRe in a/ever, to a corntr DL
Behind him In the Light Box the library fadt.s into a street scene at night:
small houses under a rent sky. The music continuesfainlr, undeTMJth
-dashing through the sido-door, stmnblingdownstairsinto the street, into
the cold night. gasping fCI' life. (Calling up in{lgony) "What?I What is thi.s?
r ellTM,Slgnort.1 Whatis tbispoin? What is this need in the sound? Porevez
unfulfillable yet fulfilling him who hears it. utterly. ls it Yow need? Can
it be Yours?" ...

Dimly the music so\Dlded from the salon above. Dimly the stars shone on
tbeempty Btreet. l was sivldenlyfrigbtmed. hscemed tome thatlhadbeard
tbe voice of Ood- and that it mocd from a crcaturc whose own voice I
hid also beard- and it was the voice of an obscene child!

Capiscot 1 know my fate. Now for the first time I fed my emptinQs as
Adam felt his nakedness ... (Slowly he rises to his feet) Tonight at an inn
somewhac in this city stands a giggling child who can put on paper,
without actually setting down his billiard cue, casual notes which tmn my
mostcon.sidett.d ones into lifeless scratches. Grozit Signore! You gave me
dle desire to serve You -which most men do not have- then saw to it
that the Stl'Vice was shameful in the ears of the server. Grazie/ You gave
me the desire to praise Yon - which most do not feel - then made me
mute. Grazie tantil You put into me pen::eption of the Incomparable which mo&1 men DCVCll' know! - dim ensmc:d that I would know myself
fomrer mr.dioac. (His voice gains power} Why! ... What is my fault? ...
Until this day I have pursued virtue with rigour. I have laboured long hours
to relieve my fellow men. I have wotked and worked the talent You
allowed me. (Calling up) You know /ww hard I've worb!d!- solely that
in the ~ in the JDciice of the art which alone makes the world
comprehmsible to me, I might bear Your Voice! And now I do hear it and
it says only one name: MOZART! ... Spiteful sniggering, conoeited,
infantine Mor.art! - who bas never worked one minute to help another
man!-shit-talking Mor.art with his botty-smacking wife! Him You have
chosen to be your sole conduit! And my only reward - my sublime
privilege - is to be the sole man alive in this time who shall ~ly
recognize Your Incarnation! (Savagely) Grazie e grazie ~ora!
He hurls the portfolio into a corner

So be it! From this time we are cnemi~ You and If I'll not accept it from
You-do you hear! ... They say Goel is not mocbd. I tr.ll you, Man is not
mocked! ... I am not mocb:dt ... They say the spirit blowcth where itlisteth:
I tell you oo! It must list to virtue or not blow at all! (Yelling) Dio ingiusto
- You are the Enemy! I name Thee now - Nemico Eterno! And this I
swear: To my last t.eatb, I shall block You on earth, as far as I am able!

-------~

-- ---~-------

Constan7.e I don't believe it .., I just don't believe it!

Salieri What?
Comtam.e What you've just said.
Salieri (hostily) I said nothing. What did I say?
Constanze gets up and Sallerl rises in panic

Constam.e Oh, rm going! ... I'm getting out of this!

Salieri Constanzc ...
Coostame Let me pass, please.
Salleri Constanze, listen to me! I'm aclmnsyman. You think me sop1ru1st1Cllledl
- rm not at all. Take a true look rve DO cunning. I live on ink
swecttncats. I never sec women at all ... When I met you lutnight, I envied
Momtfrom the depths ofmy soul. Out ofthat envy came stupid thoughts.
For one silly second I dared imagine that - out of the vast store
obviously possess-you might spare me one coin of tenderness yom
husband does not need - and inSpire me also.
Pause. She laughs
I amuse.

Coostana Mozart was right. You're wicbd.

SaJieri He said that?
Cooslame "All Italians arc performas," he said. "Be very careful with tl'8I
one." Meaning you. He was being comic, of course.
Sa1ieri Yes. (Abruptly he turns his back on her)
c.onstanze But not that comic, actually. I mean you're acting a PldJ
obvious role aren't you, dear? A small town boy, and all the time as ~Ill
as cutlets! .... (Moclc tender) Ah! You are sulking? Are yoo? ... Wbel
Mowt sulks I smack his batty. He rather likes it Do you want me to scoM
you a bit and smack your botty too?
She hits him lightly with the portfolio. He nuns in afury
Salleri How dare you?! ... You silly, comnwn girl!
\

~
~

' ---Slllerl : o: : =: : : :

< ,,~:(.C\
~

He respects you for your views.

Mor.art I hope so ... What did you think yourself, sir? Did you care for the
pir.ce at all?

Slllerl Ye5y of course, Mozart- at its best it is truly charming.

Mozart And at other times?

.Slllerl

wca

(pnoothly)
just occasionally at other times - in KadleriDas
Ilia fC6 example- it was a liltle excessive.
Mozart K.atberlna is an excessive girl In fact she's insatiabJe .. I mean in
~ard to vocal omamcnts.
Slllerl All the same, as my revacd teacher the Chevalier Gluck ased to say
10 me - ooe mist avoid music that smells of music.
Mozart What does that mean?
s.leri Music which makes one aware too much of the virtuosity of the

composer.
Mozart (mischievously) Well-I would hate to offend a Chevalier. Even
though I am ooc myself.
Weri Indeed?
ComDnie (brightly) Oh yes! The Pope made Wolfgang a Olevalier when
be WU only fourteen!
s.leri (smiling) Extraordinary.
~ They say Ght used the name all the time. Be insisted on being
addressed by it.
Sderi And you ~er not to be?
Mmart I think tides are absurd. in cooncction with music.
Sellsl Ah. (Slyly) Even - "O:>urt Compostt''?
Mar:art What? ... (R~izing) Ah. Ob: Ha. Ha. Wellt ... 1bat1 s diffcmi~ of
course .. My father's right again. He always tells me I should padlock my
mouth ... Actually. I shouldn't speak at all!
Seled (Joothingly) Nmseme. rm just being what the Eq>ezor would call
catlivo. Won't you introduce me to your charming fian=?
Mor.art Ob. ofcourse! Omstan.ze. this is Herr Salicri, the Comt Composer.
Frlu1dn Wem.
Sderl (bowing) Delighted. cara Frliulein.
OWme (bobbing) How do you do, Excellency.
s.lerl May I ask whm you marry?
Morr.art (nervously) We have to secure my father's consent. He's an
excellent man - a wondaful man- but in some ways a little stubborn.
Sderi Excuse~ but how old arc you?
Moart Twmty-six.
Sderi Then your father' s consent is scarcely indispensabJc.
Qmtena (to Mozart) You Flee?
M-..t (uncomfortably) Well no. it's not indiJpmsabk- of comse not!
Sderi My advice to you is to marry and be happy. You have found- it's
quite obvious - wi tesoro rarol

MdtACL-rMozart (imitating his drawl) Ob well said, yes, well said! Exactly! (To all
of them) I don't understand you! You're all up on perches, but it doesnt
hide your arseholesl You don't give a shit about gods and heroes! If you
are honest-each one of you-which ofyou isn'tlll<R at home with bis
haiJdresscr than Hercules? or Horatius? (To Salim) Or your stupid
Danaius, come to that! Or mine-mine too! Mithridates, King ofPontus!
... fl sogno di Scipione! All those anguished antiques! Tbey'm all bores!
Boies.~ bores! (Suddenly he springs UP. andjumps on to a chair, like
an orator. Declaring it) All serious operas written this centwy are
boring! ... Well, nine hundred and ninety-nine out of a thousand!

A pause. They turn and look at him in shocktd amazement. He gives a Uttle
RiRgk, and then jumps down again

Look at us! Four gaping mouths. What a perfect quartet! I'd love to write
it-just this second of time, this now, as you are! Qmitating thdrvoices)
Herr Ouunberlain thinking: ''lmpcrtinmt Moz:art. I must speak to the
Emperor at once! 0 Hm Prefect thinking: "Ignorant Moz.art. Debasing
opm with his vulgarity!" Herr Court Composer thinking: ''Gttman

Moz:art. Whatcanhefmallyknowaboutmusic?,, AndMozarthimself.in

the middle, thinking: 'Tm just a good fellow. Why do they all disapp'ove
ofmer(Excltedly,tovanSwieten)That'swhyopcnisimportant,Baron.
Because it's realer than any play! A dramatic poet would have to put all
those thoughts down one a&r anothei to represent this second of time.
Thecomposer can put them all down at once-and s1illmakc us bear each
oneofthem Astonishing device: a vocal quartet! (More andmore excited)

I tell you I want to write a finale lasting half an hour! Aquartet becoming
a quintet becoming a sextet becoming a septet- an octet- a nonet! On
and on, wida and wider- all sounds multiplying and rising togedlerand the Together making a sound entirely new! ... I bet you ~s. bo-.y<Jo:d
bean the world Millicms of sounds ascending at once and rruxmg m His
ear to become an UMNling music, unimaginable to us! (foSalien) That's
our job! That's ourjob, wecompostn: to combine the inner minds of him
and him ml him. and her and her- the thoughts of chambermaids and
court composers - and tum the audience into God.

---- ------- -

-------------

Co"~c.

Mor.art (To Constanu) Do you realize what you've done?

CODll.,... No, what? ... (Fhutued. she b~s herselfrestoring the plates
~ I ...-. _ ~
<fsweetmeats to the table>
.
f"'CI ~ \
Mozart Just lost your rqmtation. that's alH You're now a loose girl.
Comtame Don't be so stupid. (She too ~movu her mask)
Mozart You are a married woman, for God's sake!
CaWmP And what of it?
Morlart A young wife does not allow her legs to be handled in public.
Couldn't you at least have measured your own ugly legs?
ecma..... What?
Mmart (raising his voice) Do you know what you've done?! ... You've
abamed me- that's alll Shamed me!
1T""'

3\

c..tamr Ob, don't be so ridiculous!

Mori.art Shamed me - in front of !Mm!

CCJNlnw (suddtnly furious) You - shamed you! ... That's a Jaugb! If

there's any shame around, lovey, it's mint!

Molart What do you mean?
Conlte You'vc only had every pupil who ever came to you.
Mm.art That's not true.
Comtanze Ever)- single female pupil!
Morart Name them! N~ them!
_
c.omtame The Aurnhammcr girl! The Rumbcck girl! Katherina Cavalieri
- that sly little whore! She wasn't even your pupil - she was Salieris.
Whicll actually. my dear, may be why be has hundreds and you have none!
He doesn't drag dlml into bed!
Mozart Of course he doesn't. He can't get it up, that's why! ... Have you
heard his music? That's the sound of someone who can t get it up! At least
I can do that!
Comtanze I'm sick of you!
Mozart (shouting) No-one ever said I couldn't do thatl
Coostarm (bursting into tears) I don't give a fart! I hate you! I hate you for
ever and eva - I hate you! (A tiny pause. She weeps)
Mmart (helplessly) Oh Stanzcrl, don't cry. Please don't cry ... I can't bear
it when you cry. Ijust dido 't want you to look cht.ap in people'seyes, that's
all. HCIC! (He S111.1tches up tM ruler) Beat me. Beat me ... I'm your slave.
Stanzi marini. Smnzi marini bini gini. I'll just stand here like a little lamb
and bear your strokes. Htre. Do it ... Botti.

ConsCame No.
Mozart Botti, batli. Mio taoro!
Coostame No!
Mozart Stanzcrly wanzerly piggly poo!
Constaoze Stop it
Mai.art Stanzy wanzy had a fit Shit her stays and made than split!

She giggles despite herself

Coostame Stop it.
Mozart When they took away her skirt. Stmzy wanzy ate the dirt!
ConstaDZP Stop it now!

c..tenw Stop it nowt It's stupid! Really stupid!

~- Sallui sits appalled

Momt Hey-hey- what's Trazom!
C...am.e What?
.
Mlart T-R-A-Z-0-M. What's that mean?
O.ame How should I know?
Mozart It's Mozan spelt backwards - shit-wit! If you ever married me.
yoo'd be Constanz.e Trazom.
Comtame No. I wouldn't

Mozart Yes. you would. Becauserd want everything backwardsoncel waa

married. rd want to lick my wife's use instl21 of her face.

Constame You 're not going to lick anything at1his rate. Yomfather's neva"
going to give his consent to us.
The sense offun deserts him instamly

Mozart And who caies about bis consent?

Constanze You do. You care very much- You wouldn't do it without it.
Mom1 Wouldn't 17
CooslaDJJe No, you wouldn't Because you're too scared of him. I know
whatbesaysaboutme. (In asolemnvoice)"lfyoumauythatdn:adfulgid,
you'll cod up lying oo straw with beggars forcbildn::o."
Momrt (impulsively) Marry me!
eom.anze Don't be silly.
Mozart Many me!
Constame ~you serious?
Mmart (defiantly) Yes! . Answrz me this minute: yes or no! Say yes, ala
I can go home, shit in the bed and shout '1 did it!"

-~--

--

--- ----- ----- --

----------

Comtame Can you hear me? Try to, Wolfc:rl ... Wolfi-polfi ... Try to bear.
If I've been a bore - if I've nagged a bit about money, it didn't mean
anything. It's only because I'm spoilt You spoiltme.lovcy. You've got
to get well, Wolfi- because we need you. Karl and Baby Franz as well

There'sonlythethreeofus: wcdon'tcostmuch.Justdoo'tleaveus-wc
wouldn't know what to do without you. And you wouldn't know much
either op in Heaven, without us. You soppy thing. You can't even cut up
your own meat without help! ... I'm not clever, lovey. It can't have been
a.sy living with a goose. But rvc looted after you, you must admit that
And I've given you fun too - quite a lot, really! ... Are you listming?

Mozart's dnun strolies get slower, and stop

Know one thing. It was the best day ofmy life when you married me. And
as long as I live I'll be 1he most honoured woman in the world. ... Can you
hear me?

------- - - - -

Mozart Majesty, may I present my fianc6e, Ftiulcin Weber.

Cavalieri reacts in total surprise
J09epb Enchanli, Frdulein.
Coosa.me Your Majesty?
Mozart Constanze is a singer herself.
Jo.pla Indeed?
CoostamJe (embarrassed) I'm notat&L Majesty. Don'tbe silly, Wolfganil
Joaeph So, Mo7.8rt - a good effort. Decidedly that A good effort.
Moart Did you really like i~ Sire?
Joaepb I thought it was most interesting. Yes, indeed A trifle- how shall
one say? (To Orsini-Rosenberg) How shall one say, Direct.or?
Onlni-Roseoberg (subserviently) Too many notes, Your Majesty?
Joseph Very well put Too many notes.
Mor.art I don't understand.
'
Joseph My dear fellow, don't take it too hard. There arc in fact only so many
notes the ear can hear in tbecoW"SCof an evening. I thinkrmrightin saying
that, arm't /,Court Composer?
Salieri (1111C011fort1Jbly) Well yes, I would say yes, on the whole, ye.a.

Mapty.
Joseph There you arc. It's clevtt. It's Ottman. It's quality work. And tbta
are simply too many notes. Do you see?
Mozart 1brze arc just as many noo:s, Majesty. neit!H7 moJC nor less, as are
tt.quired.
Pause
Josepll Ah ... Well, there it is.

---------