Original subtitles

Kappellmeister!

Kappellmeister!

Sir!

Kappellmeister.

Please.

Oh, no.

I didn't send for you.

Your footman found this on your person.

It was meant to be read posthumously.

And as the snow broke your fall

and you didn't cut your throat deeply enough to bleed to death

I respected your wishes and I haven't opened it.

Read it.

I am an old woman, Antonio.

Pulled from my bed and made to walk through the cold.

But I'm here now.

So why don't you just tell me

whatever it was you wanted to tell me?

Face to face.

What is it?

It's a confession.

It sounded lovely up there, dear.

Well, thank you. I'm composing something new.

A commission?

No, no. A speculative work.

Thank you, Bruno.

Actually, I'm going to show some to the Emperor today.

I thought it might be fun to have him play a little and then surprise him

and tell him he's the first person to perform my new opera.

How could he turn it down?

F... F-sharp, Your Majesty, yes.

See, the problem with that note is it's too difficult to arrive at

from the note that precedes it.

- Who wrote this? - I did, Majesty, it's a...

it's a new piece.

Did you not consider that

the F-sharp was almost impossible to ascend to from here?

It seemed, at the time, as if it were the correct direction to take.

Yes, well, perhaps a reconsideration is in order.

Perhaps, Your Majesty, yes.

Right, that's enough for today, I think.

Just take a look at the F-sharp, will you?

Of course, Your Majesty. I--

You know, I have plans, Antonio.

Reforms.

Economic, cultural, social, religious.

Reforms the likes of which I do not believe

have been attempted before.

The thing with change though, is that people aren't very keen on it.

Even if it's in their best interests.

So, I shall need every trick at my disposal.

Do you know what opera is?

Yes.

Well, what do you think it is, Sir?

Power.

Kings and queens

friends and foes, they will all come here.

They will see our palaces, they will see our armies

and they will see our operas.

Grander and finer than anything

that London, Prague or St. Petersburg has to offer.

I cannot overstate its importance to the Empire.

Of course, Your Majesty.

And it's an honour to serve the Crown.

Good. So, I would like you to put on a remake.

A remake?

Your... your opera, Tarare.

The French one.

I'd like a version for us.

But not in French though. Do it in Italian.

Yes, I-I-I did rather have my sights set on newer compositions.

Well, save them.

A return to past successes is what's needed in delicate times.

You're a godly man, hm?

You believe that He speaks through your music?

I believe He does, Sir, yes.

Well, I need you to be my voice too, Salieri.

You have room for us both?

Of course, Sir.

You seem tired today.

I stayed up reading.

Well, consider not doing that anymore.

I have a new commission from the Emperor.

It's an old opera of mine

originally in French to be re-mounted in Italian and staged here.

And I would very much like you to take a role in it.

Court Composer, I would be honoured.

What opera is it?

Tarare.

Tarare?

It was very popular.

I'm not sure I know it.

Well, anyway, we're doing it again.

I thought you were writing something...

new.

Well, put on hold.

Now, you go home and try to get some rest.

Well, I will tonight

but Friday is the Baroness' party.

I'd forgotten all about that.

Did you hear she has a secret performer?

- Who? - Well, it's a secret, isn't it?

But I've heard it might be Mozart.

The travelling maestro

wrote his first aria in the womb and all of that?

Are you not intrigued, at least to meet him?

I've met my fair share of prodigies in my time.

Can't say I remember many of their names now though.

Oh, yes. This could be him.

He's not going to be ill-mannered, is he?

- What do you mean? - He's not going to be raucous.

Do you think he'll have a lot of things?

Where are we going to put them all?

He's not putting them in my room.

Of course he's not putting them in your room.

Do you think he's going to be handsome?

Will you all shush?

- Hello. - Herr Mozart, welcome.

Welcome to our--

Firstly, I apologise.

Secondly, good day.

So, it's two gulden a month for the room and only the room.

One meal a day is included.

And I'll do a monthly wash, but any extra's extra.

- Understood. - Why did you throw up?

- Sophie, don't be rude. - That's alright.

I don't mind, Sophie.

You see, I had quite a bit of wine last night

and a little more this morning.

Think it was that combined with the motion of the carriage, really.

Some letters have already arrived for you.

Have you opened them?

From my father, let's have a look.

"Dear Wolfgang, I'm writing to express my displeasure

at you finding room and board

in a delinquent house of ill-reputed sluts--"

I think he's just a bit upset that I've left Salzburg.

I did explain to him that you're not delinquents. Or sluts, obviously.

The girls' bedrooms are down there, they all have locks on.

You're up this way.

Why did you leave Salzburg?

My employer. I don't like to speak ill of the man

but I once met a stable boy who'd been kicked in the head by a donkey

and I think he had more cognitive aptitude

than the Archbishop of Salzburg.

What a lovely house.

Have you been here a long time?

We moved here recently. My husband passed away

and then my beautiful Aloysia got a role at the Imperial Opera

so here we are.

- Shut up. - That's marvellous news.

Not about your husband, obviously.

But the Imperial Opera! That's marvellous.

I hope to have my own work performed there one day.

Do you have a commission?

No. But I assume it won't take too long, now that I'm here.

Is this me?

Vienna...

Wolfgang, I write to you again imploring you to see sense.

This move to Vienna was not discussed.

It is reckless in the extreme.

Salzburg was the right position for you.

You must apologise to the Archbishop and beg him to take you back.

It is not your talent which causes me worry. But your manner...

The politics of Vienna have destroyed shrewder men than you.

Return to Salzburg, let me guide your career.

Don't ruin what we have spent so long trying to build--

Herr Mozart?

Wolfgang?

- Sorry? - I was asking about the tours

you went on when you were younger.

You travelled a lot, didn't you?

Yes, no, everywhere.

England, France, Italy, the Vatican.

Exhausting, really.

And your mother and father, they accompanied you?

Yes.

Well, until Mother died, of course.

What happened?

When my mother died?

Well, we were in Paris

and she was unwell, we meant to return together but...

I returned alone.

Have you been to the Opera House yet?

Yes. Of course.

We went last year when we were visiting the city.

The girls' father wasn't very well but we still managed to see Armida.

Do you remember?

- Salieri! - Yes. Salieri.

I thought it was quite wonderful.

Oh, yes.

Oh, you didn't like it?

It was fine. It was fine!

Constanze thinks herself quite the expert

which is funny as she is the least capable vocalist in the family.

Stanze just has a smaller spectrum of ability, that's all.

Well, she wanted to be a star soprano when she grew up, but--

I'm four notes short and my range doesn't reach so...

These notes...

Right at the top.

Stanze can't hit them.

God, she used to try and try and fall about in floods of tears.

I wonder if you'd hit that high note if I kicked you in the cunt.

- Stanze! - What?

What? She started it.

We have a guest.

We're not supposed to be in here.

- Treat room! - Don't touch them.

Actually, in my experience

the things you're not supposed to touch

are the very things that you should touch first.

And taste?

That's nice, just a quick...

fuck!

- A direct hit! - Shit, I have a performance to give.

Katerina Cavalieri.

My name, by the way, I want you to remember it.

How could I not?

Toodle loo!

Dear God.

It was, on the surface, a simple piece.

But the more you listened, the more the layers presented themselves.

The melody and the harmony alternating seamlessly

between right and left hands.

Hands which glanced on the Baroness' fortepiano

as if guided by something greater than himself.

This repulsive creature played so exquisitely.

What do you think?

Fun, no?

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Antonio Salieri.

The Court Composer!

Yes.

This is incredibly fortuitous.

The whole reason why I came to Vienna

was to write for the Imperial Opera.

Well... well, there's a process

- to all of that. - Meringue?

I wouldn't, they're a bit tart.

You must at least be able to get me one meeting with the Emperor?

He's a very busy man.

What could be more important than this?

Than meeting you?

Well, I believe he's currently drawing up plans

to ensure our nation's claim on the Kingdom of Bavaria.

I suppose that might be taking up some of his time.

Please. Just one meeting.

I'd be forever in your debt, obviously.

Well, there is an opportunity coming up.

It's a duel at the palace against Clementi.

The Emperor will be judging the winner.

- Yes! - But it's...

it's in less than a week, there's no time to prepare.

That's loads of time to prepare.

Mozart, to perform badly would do you more harm

than not performing at all.

- I don't. - You don't what?

Perform badly.

Then I shall make arrangements.

Yes! Thank you so much.

- Thank you, Herr Salieri. - Of course.

A pleasure to meet you. You've just made an excellent evening

even better!

Bruno!

- Yes, sir! - Bruno.

I'll forgo dinner tonight. I mean to compose.

Excellent, sir.

Actually, leave me a small cut of beef and some vegetables

- on a tray outside the door. - Yes, sir.

And... and potatoes are in season, aren't they?

- They are, sir. - I'll have some of those too.

And a glass of wine.

There's a Brunello that would pair excellently

but it's... it's young, so open it now

it will need time to breathe.

- Of course, sir. - And no disturbances of any kind.

I believe inspiration will not be in short supply.

And say goodnight to my wife.

I don't think I'll see her this evening.

Right.

- Wolfgang. - Constanze.

- Is everything alright? - It's three o'clock in the morning.

- Is it? - Yes, it is.

And most people are asleep.

In the quiet.

Did you just write this?

- Can I? - Please.

It's quite good.

Thank you.

Quite good?

Is it true what your sister said about you the other night?

My range?

Yes. I used to dream about it.

Being a singer.

A coloratura soprano.

I wanted to be a star, I suppose.

I agreed with you about Armida, by the way.

All those boring trails.

Only a fool would like something like that.

I hope you're not calling my sister a fool.

I wouldn't dream of it.

I felt really sorry hearing about your childhood.

Having to travel around like that.

Well, I was a very happy child.

Were you?

I don't know.

Were you?

No. Well, I...

I wasn't happy or sad. I was just...

un-unremarkable.

Unremarkable?

They're only four notes, Constanze.

But I can't reach them.

Okay, well, I'm going to go back to bed now.

Yes, I'll stop playing.

No. Don't.

What?

- Good evening. - Did you just fall down the stairs?

No.

Why do you ask?

What time's the duel?

I think it's in about an hour.

Right.

And should you be completely smashed for that?

I'm not completely smashed for that.

I've just had a couple of sharpeners with lunch, honestly.

You fall down one flight of stairs

and suddenly everyone's accusing you of being completely smashed.

Hey, excuse me.

Tonight's too important for you to mess it up. Sit down!

- I-- - Sit down!

I'm making you a coffee.

Coffee? Yes, good idea.

Coffee with a little splash of cognac if you don't mind.

- Juggle. - This is excellent, truly.

I actually know how to juggle. What's excellent?

You're adding self-sabotage to all your other character flaws.

I don't have character flaws.

You have almost nothing but character flaws.

Vienna isn't Paris. It isn't London, it isn't Prague...

- Anywhere else that it isn't-- - Wolfgang!

I want you to succeed here.

'Cause if you don't, then you can't pay rent

I will have to sell my things, prostitute my sisters

and I really like my things.

Tonight isn't a parlour game

it's an audition.

You need these people.

Wolfgang!

Very fancy, very fancy.

Wow! Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh.

Have you ever met the Emperor before?

No, Wolfgang. No, I've not met the Emperor before.

Most people don't.

I wish I'd worn a different dress.

Why? I think you look very comely.

What do you mean by comely?

Nothing, I just think you look nice, I thought you'd like me saying that.

No, no, no, you're not helping. You're not helping, Wolfgang.

Herr Mozart!

Hello!

Mozart!

Come!

- Your Majesty. - Don't need to worry about that.

Sorry, yes.

I've heard many stories about your talents.

I can't tell you how keen I am to hear them for myself.

Yes.

And this is?

Your Constanze, Majesty.

I mean Constanze, Your Majesty.

Very good.

Well, shall we begin?

Right then!

Clementi!

Very good!

Thank you. Actually, may I have a go at that one first?

I quite like that one.

By all means. Do you need the music?

No, thank you.

Very good! Very jolly!

Bravo!

Yuck, who wrote this?

- Can I change it? - Feel free.

Bravo!

Wonderful tune! Very good, Mozart.

My goodness!

The F-sharp is difficult, isn't it?

Clementi! Your response!

Mozart!

Clementi!

Come on, Clementi. Fight back.

Bravo!

A duel like no other.

I've never seen anything like it.

Bravo, indeed. Well done, young man.

Ladies and gentlemen, a round of applause for Mr. Mozart!

What an extraordinary young man.

Extraordinary.

Absolutely shitting outrageous.

Mozart! Mozart!

- Mozart! - Well, that was memorable.

I've never been fucked in a palace before.

- Excuse me? - A tie? After that?

Would it have helped if I'd played upside down?

I can do that, you know.

Well, God willing, I won't die without witnessing it.

You owe me fifty ducats.

That prize should have been mine in its entirety.

Wolfgang...

He doesn't mean it, sir. He just gets passionate.

The prize wasn't the money, Mozart.

It was the Emperor's favour.

And believe you me, you didn't share in that.

He wants to commission an opera from you.

What? Oh, my god.

There were some in the Court

who thought you might be a little too green

but I... I convinced them you should be given a go.

I-I don't know what to say.

Well, let us all revel in your temporary silence.

Be here Monday afternoon, 1:00 p.m. sharp.

We'll discuss plans.

Thank you so much, Court Composer, thank you.

Of course, of course!

Thank you. A commission!

Of course.

To the Emperor.

To the Emperor.

- To you. - To us.

Is this what you do?

What?

Kiss any girl who's nice to you?

Would you prefer for me to not kiss you?

I think it would be improper.

That's not what I asked though.

I know that's not what you asked though.

If you don't tell me not to kiss you, then I'm going to kiss you.

I'm not going to tell you not to kiss me.

Oh, my goodness. I cannot listen to anymore.

Mother!

- Constanze. Wolfgang. - Hello.

Have you been listening the whole time?

One rule I have, Wolfgang.

I will not allow wickedness under this roof.

I will not have my girls' reputations damaged.

If you break this rule, I will throw you out of this house myself

and chop up your instruments for fire.

Do you understand?

Yes, Frau Weber. Yes.

So, it is late.

And it would do us all well to go to our separate rooms.

- Yes, Mother. - Absolutely, yes.

Good night, Wolfgang.

Another letter for you.

From your father.

You know you should really write back to him. Or I will.

You should have seen the look on Clementi's face, poor fellow.

Like he'd seen a ghost. Sweat pouring off him.

Here he is, the very boy.

Good afternoon, Your Majesty.

Mozart! Do come in.

So, Herr Mozart. Congratulations on your commission.

We're all very intrigued to see what you can do.

Now, I'd like to start by talking about possible themes which--

I already have an idea.

Really?

Yes. Very excited about it actually.

But, first of all, just to say, this will be an opera in German.

German?

Yes.

Not Italian?

Well, I just thought it would be nice

if the audience could understand what was being sung for once.

I haven't always found that to improve the experience.

All right.

- What's your idea? - Ah, yes.

I've written the first act already. But in terms of the story

well, here's the thing.

It's quite daring

both in its composition and in its setting.

- Setting? - Yes.

It takes place in a harem.

A fucking what?

Pardon, Your Majesty. Scuse.

It's set where?

A harem. A whorehouse. A seraglio.

And you consider this appropriate?

Yes. I mean, it's funny, it's different.

I can assure you there won't be any inappropriateness

and, of course, it will contain many fine German virtues.

And what are those, exactly?

Being Italian, I'm not sure.

Yes, come on, Mozart.

Name us a proper German virtue.

Well, love, Sire.

- I suppose. - What?

This feels like a risk.

I'll say.

Well, we already have Antonio re-doing his Tarare

I think we can probably afford to be a bit exciting with this one.

Give it a... a short run.

Low costs. There doesn't seem to be too much risk there.

Thank you, Your Majesty. Thank you!

Thank you, Mozart!

Thank you so much.

Thank you!

Thank you!

Dear Lord, please speak through me.

Please use me You have used me before.

Let me be Your vessel, Lord.

Let me be Your voice.

Speak.

Speak.

Well, one part excels at least.

Bravo.

- Bravo! - That will do for today. Thank you.

Thank you, Court Composer.

Thank you.

Bravo, Court Composer.

It's sounding magnificent.

Don't. Don't pretend it's something it's not.

I know you know. Anyone in this city, you know.

I mean, it doesn't disgrace you at least.

I have done better work than this.

Armida, now there was an opera.

There was an opera. Yes, indeed.

I'm trying to compose something new, but it's not coming to me.

I've had dry spells before.

The voice leaves me for periods, but it always comes back.

But you can't help fear.

What if...

What if?

What if, what if it doesn't come back?

Wait there a moment.

- Oh, no. - There we are!

- Oh, no. - As a thank-you.

A bit strong.

It used to be that I could find His voice

as easily as I found my own.

His?

God's.

Oh, yes. Him.

You don't believe what we do is divine?

This, this is a gift, it's given to us, no?

Music is the closest man gets to conversing with God.

And if this is a conversation with God

are not composers the ones speaking in His voice?

Let's have a look.

I mean, a few lines and dots...

it's just instructions, isn't it?

Mathematical instructions.

I mean, are these methods to capture the voices of angels

or merely a command to an oboe player?

I believe it's more than that.

I believe it must be a holy gift.

Holy gift?

I mean, say it it's God

who gives us this.

Fucking hell, I wish He'd leave me alone sometimes.

It's constant. The bombardment.

The arrangements, the variations. I mean...

what's He trying to say with it all?

It'll be full in a week.

The watchers come to accept our offerings.

I keep having this dream.

I'm... I'm walking through my house and I hear a noise.

And I look out and I see that there's an audience watching me.

I mean, watch as I...

sleep and eat and drink

and perform all the human acts a man might perform.

And they applaud at the end.

At the end, they applaud...

but they never stand...

and it kills me.

They like it well enough.

My little performance.

I know that when they leave the theatre

and they return to their homes

the memory of me will fade.

I used to write all night long.

Pages upon pages of music. Just flowing.

Not anymore.

My goodness.

Sorry.

Sounds like you're a little bit blocked, Herr Salieri.

Maybe you need to try to flush the pipes out somehow.

How do you mean?

I noticed you paying Frau Cavalieri a bit of extra attention just now.

So?

Maybe you need to try a different kind of "night music"

Court Composer.

See if that helps.

Night music.

Hello.

- Hello. - Just checking you were alright.

Not drinking yourself into a stupor or anything.

No, I am alright. Thank you.

Yes. Another one.

Your father?

Will he be there tonight?

No.

Well, fuck him then.

Okay, bye.

Do sit down, sit down, sit down.

Bravo! Bravo! Well done.

Excellent performance.

My dear, you were radiant.

Thank you, Your Majesty.

Bravo!

Bravo!

That was...

Well, that was...

it was very interesting. And new.

It felt very new.

Thank you, Majesty.

Although, of course, perhaps not without its faults

though I'm sure that's only to be expected.

Faults, Your Majesty?

Well, yes.

Yes, it just felt at times that there were...

well, perhaps... it was just...

too many notes.

Too many notes?

Yes. Too many notes.

There are only so many notes that an audience can listen to

of an evening before one cannot take any more.

It did feel at times as though one was being slightly bombarded.

With notes.

With notes. Yes.

You agree, Court Composer?

Y-Yes, Your Majesty.

You're not wrong. A piece can become too busy.

It's a mistake a young composer can easily make.

Well, it was... it was a very fine opera all the same.

Just perhaps remove some of the notes and it'll be perfect.

Yes.

Which notes did you have in mind, Emperor?

One more round of applause for our young composer and his...

his fine performers!

Herr Salieri!

- How could you do that? - What?

Why didn't you stand up for the music?

It's politics, Mozart.

You can't disagree with the Emperor in front of every--

I didn't ask why you didn't stand up for me.

I asked why you didn't stand up for the music.

It was perfect.

How could you stand there as a composer

and just agree with him?

He liked the piece.

I'm sure there'll be another. Take the victory.

You know, just because you're stuck rehashing boring old operas

doesn't mean I have to be.

Maybe God doesn't speak to you because you fucking bore him.

"Too many notes."

Ridiculous criticism. The Emperor couldn't hear it.

Most people couldn't hear it.

But I could.

I could hear even then what he was.

And what he would become.

It wasn't then though.

It was later. A month or so later.

At a performance in the palace gardens.

Excuse me. Sorry. Sorry I'm late.

- Excuse me! - Thank you, sir.

Excuse me. Sorry.

He managed to get in one final insult

delivered as only he could.

Ladies and gentlemen

we would like to begin with a new composition.

It's a modest piece, but I wrote it in the small hours of the night

as if a voice was speaking to me.

And only to me.

If you look under your chairs

the details are on the back of your programmes.

Perhaps it was in that moment I knew what I was going to do.

The moment you knew you were going to do what?

I was going to kill Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Yes.