Product Description

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is a genius, the most brilliant musician the world will ever see. But the court of eighteenth-century Vienna doesn’t recognize his talents - only Antonio Salieri, the Court Composer, does, and he is tortured by what he hears. Seething with rage at the genius of this flippant buffoon and suddenly aware of his own mediocrity, Salieri declares war and sets out to destroy the man he sees as God’s instrument on earth. Peter Shaffer’s award-winning play is a rich, exuberant portrayal of a God-like man among mortals, and lives destroyed by envy.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #48382 in Books
• Published on: 2007-01-25
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 112 pages

About the Author
Peter Shaffer was born in Liverpool in 1926. Among his plays, The Salt Land (1954), Equus (1973) which won Shaffer the 1975 Tony Award for Best Play as well as the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, Amadeus (1979) which won the Evening Standard Drama Award and the Theatre Critics Award for the London production.

Customer Reviews

a masterpiece of modern theatre
This play is great. Shaffer has created a play in which drama, intrigue, suspense,sexuality, jealousy, revenge, and slight comedy all have an important part in the storyline. I read this play as an assignment for a drama class, but ended up falling in love with it. In my opinion, the second gretest drama of all time (behind "Death Of A Salesman"). I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a good read or a thrilling tale.

a fabulous book made into a fabulous film!
i read this once, years ago, and never forgot it. since then i have been looking for it off and on, and now i have it! if you think the film gets personal, wait till you read this play! salieri and mrs. mozart? salieri and catherine? salieri teaching beethoven?

all this and more just waiting to be read by YOU!! pick up a copy today!

A Musical Tale
Almost undoubtedly Schaeffer's best play, an engrossing subject richly written with intelligent humour and a wonderful blend of modern and almost stylised language. However the second act feels slightly repetitive in structure and slightly overlong, plus, I feel, the ending of the piece feels a little disappointing and unforgettable - it lacks slightly in finesse given the calibre of the play up to that point. Otherwise a very strong play.