I think it may say something about the real state of affairs in
education in the humanties today that the film _Amadeus_, even in a
civil discussion among musicians, is immediately labeled a "film about
Mozart", when it is nothing of the sort.
Both the stage play and the film-- and the title is the giveaway -- is a
study in the love of God, loving God, and of a creator's unequal and
inexplicable assignments of worldly gifts. The play and film have
indeed instrumentalised aspects of some historical figures and events --
throwing in a number of fictional elements for good measure -- but an
educated audience should be able to figure that out.
However, I honestly don't know what is more alarming: the broad public
misperception of the work, or the persistent complaints from musicians
and musical academics about the play and film for lack of historical
accuracy, a standard that the author (and, subsequently, filmmakers) had
no interest in meeting.
Daniel Wolf
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