Amadeus

Synopsis

At the end of his life, an elderly Antonio Salieri looks back on his glory days at the Viennese court. He was once the most important composer in the country. His works were performed all over Europe. He also held great sway in administrative matters—he had a strong influence on the awarding of commissions, subsidies to fellow composers, and the appointment of music teachers.

Then a young Mozart arrives from Salzburg. He has left his father behind, determined to make it on his own in the capital. Salieri immediately recognizes Mozart’s extraordinary talent. Suddenly, he becomes acutely aware of his own mediocrity. In response, he does everything in his power to sabotage Mozart’s career. Salieri’s prominent position in Vienna’s music world proves highly useful in this endeavor.

“You gave me, Lord, among the few, the gift to recognize true genius—and with it, the burden and tormenting knowledge of my own eternal mediocrity.” (Salieri)

“As if the human soul only consists of sun-drenched mountaintops! I can assure you, there are just as many dark valleys where the sun never reaches. And hidden there are clusters of sound no ear has ever heard. Anyone who lacks the courage to descend into the depths of the soul might as well use their sheet music to wipe their ass. No wonder the music in this city is so god-awfully boring.” (Mozart)

Overview of reviews

Amadeus in the Press: “What a Celebration!”

De Volkskrant headlined: “A perfect example of subsidized art for a broad audience.” De Telegraaf awarded the maximum five stars and praised the “powerful contribution of the specially assembled orchestra.” NRC highlighted the most beautiful scenes “in which Mozart and the music take center stage, such as the graceful dance scene from Le Nozze di Figaro or the furious Queen of the Night from Die Zauberflöte, brilliantly sung by soprano Lucia Chartin.” Trouw also gave five stars: “The insanely skillful acting, Mozart’s music, the richly nuanced staging are relentless and of a tormenting beauty.” Den Haag Centraal had warm words for OPERA2DAY’s contribution: “With a live, fifteen-piece orchestra and the intoxicating soprano Lucie Chartin from co-producer OPERA2DAY […] this is a performance you don’t want to miss: entertaining, intelligent, thrilling, with music performed in golden tones.” Finally, Scènes put it this way: “A lively, intelligent, and successful production on all levels, where the love for beautiful music constantly splashes into the audience. What a celebration!”

Cast & crew

ARTISTIC TEAM

Director: Theu Boermans
Playwright: Peter Shaffer
Translators: Theu Boermans, Karim Ameur
Dramaturgy: Karim Ameur
Assistant Director: Marjolein Polman
Musical Director: Hernán Schvartzman
Arrangements: Daniël Hamburger
Set Design: Bernhard Hammer
Props Master: Rob Snoek
Costume Design: Mattijs van Bergen
Lighting Design: Jan Harm Wagner, Stefan Dijkman
Sound Design: Maarten Houdijk
Choir Coordinator: Patrick Pranger

CAST

Antonio Salieri, composer – Mark Rietman
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, composer – Sander Plukaard
Constanze Weber, his wife – Yela de Koning
Emperor Joseph – Vincent Linthorst
Franca Orsini-Rosenberg, Director of the National Opera – Esther Scheldwacht
Gottfried van Swieten, Chair of the Council for Culture – Jaap Spijkers
Johann von Strack, Minister of Arts and Sciences – Yamill Jones
Katherina Cavalieri, soprano – Lucie Chartin / Morgane Heyse
I Venticelli, the whisperers – Lisa Zweerman, Teun Donders

ORCHESTRA

1st Violin – Rebecca Huber
1st Violin (2nd) – Ivan Illiev
2nd Violin – Aleksandra Kwiatkowska
Viola – Luca Alfonso Rizzello
Cello – Nina Hitz
Cello (2nd) – Ania Katynska
Double Bass – Silvia Jiminez
Double Bass (2nd) – Hen Goldsobel
Flute – Tami Krausz
Flute (2nd) – Melody Yeomans
Oboe – Robert de Bree
Bassoon – Takako Kunugi
Horn – Federico Cuevas Ruiz
Clarinet – Giulia Zannin
Trumpet – Nicholas Emmerson
Trumpet (2nd) – Patrice Bolleau
Percussion – Orlando Aguilar

CHOIRS

Chordiality, conducted by Patrick Pranger
Haags Toonkunstkoor, conducted by Patrick van der Linden
Residentie Bachkoor, conducted by Jos Vermunt

PRODUCTION TEAM

Producer – Edwin van Balkom
Executive Producer – Rosalie Mohr
Production Manager – Rodney Verhoeven
Technical Coordinator – Lex Boere
Technicians – Idwinge Boetes, Luuk Bruininks, Sharon Harte, Femke de Bot
Wardrobe – Karianne Hoenderkamp, Isabel Blokland, Judith van Ooijen
Costume Workshop HNT – Iris Elströdt (head), Daan Wieman, Amanda van Marion, Suet Huy Yung-Ho, Bernadette Kijzers, Roy Verschuren, Sanne Blijleven (intern), Riëtte van Raamsdonk (volunteer)
Head Stage Manager – Joost Claas
Hair, Makeup & Mask Design Advisor – Leo Maliepaard
Hair & Makeup – Marissa Coster, Stan Roobol (intern), Sanne van der Hoek (intern)
Masks – Rolf de Booij, Mathilde Wiessing
Company Managers – Mieke van der Ven, Rodney Verhoeven
Marketing & PR Project Managers – Daniel Jaspers, Joyce Wasterval
Office Manager – Jari Vegting

SPECIAL THANKS TO

Fonds 1818
Elise Mathilde Fund
BankGiro Lottery

Willy Caspers, Marco Alibux, decor workshop Vorm en Dekor, Showtex, Roos Ouwehand, Karim Bizid, Ilja Kievit, Shuann Chai, Joris van Bennekom, Sjoukje Kloostra, Deep Thought, FEL, Optiek Torica
All staff of Het Nationale Toneel and OPERA2DAY

Fortepiano: M. Rosenberger (1820, Vienna), on loan from the National Musical Instrument Foundation