The story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his rivalry with court composer Antonio Salieri has become the stuff of legend, thanks to the massive success of Peter Shaffer’s play Amadeus, which was later adapted into Miloš Forman‘s Oscar-winning film. The tale of how one man’s obsession with genius slowly curdled into envy, resentment, and self-destruction captivated audiences, turning the composer into a larger-than-life figure in one of cinema’s most celebrated historical dramas. Even if it is mostly balderdash.
Now, almost five decades later, the story of Mozart and Salieri has been reimagined for the small screen by Joe Barton and Julian Farino as Starz brings the legendary rivalry to television in Amadeus. Starring Paul Bettany as Salieri and Will Sharpe as Mozart, the series promises a deeper and more nuanced exploration of the artistic feud that would ultimately consume both men and cement their places in cultural history.
But how much of it was real? And how much of it was embellished for entertainment’s sake. Here is a look at a few of the series’ basics: the true, the false, and what lies between. Warning: Spoilers ahead for Amadeus Season 1.
Amadeus, Fridays, 9/8c, Starz