Who was Antonio Salieri – envious schemer, misunderstood genius, or history’s fall guy? Immortalized in Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus, Salieri remains one of the most intriguing and misunderstood figures in classical music. Through a dynamic panel discussion interspersed with live performances, we will explore Salieri’s place in music history as a prolific and innovative composer, a respected conductor, and a highly influential teacher to a generation of composers- including Beethoven, Schubert, and Liszt. We’ll examine how and why Salieri became enshrined in popular imagination as the vicious rival to Mozart, as seen in Amadeus; and hear excerpts from his opera Falstaff, to shed light on the real Salieri - an accomplished composer in his own right whose music reveals a talent and wit that history has too often overlooked. What makes this narrative so compelling - and what truths lie beneath it?

Jonathan L. Green

Events

Past events

Nov 19, 2025

Rivalry, Myth & The Legacy Of Antonio Salieri · Chicago Opera Theater

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