What if MOZART was actually jealous of Salieri?

While the classic movie “Amadeus” might have painted Antonio Salieri as a bitter composer, burning with envy over Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's talents, the real story of their relationship is far more intriguing.

In fact, Salieri had little reason to be jealous of his younger contemporary. He not only enjoyed greater opportunities but also achieved more success than Mozart during their lifetimes.

Surprisingly, a peek into Mozart's private letters hints at a different narrative – one where Mozart might have been the one feeling a twinge of jealousy, particularly when it came to Salieri's opportunities.

📚 Sources📚

Swafford, Jan. Mozart: The Reign of Love. Harper, an Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2020.

Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus. Mozart’s Letters, Mozart’s Life: Selected Letters. Edited by Robert Spaethling, WW Norton & Company, 2006.

[freddiethelionhearted]

I love the side eye Mozart and Salieri give eachother 😂😂

[abrahamjh]

Read somewhere that it is Mozart who is jealous, not Salieri. Great video!

[suryahitam]

This is perhaps the most important video I will see this month, as it has really changed my perception of Mozart and his relationship to Salieri. True investigative journalism. Thank-you!

[dorrin]

Mozart had more reason to be jealous than Salieri did. Salieri was older and more well-established in Vienna. He had a built in advantage for getting certain royal commissions and postings. Mozart might have been the better composer, but Salieri was no mediocrity.

Mozart was his own worst enemy in some ways. He was quite full of himself, which didn't endear him to other composers.

As for the cabals? Salieri endured his fair share of them too.

[Chopiet]

I love Mozart’s voice actor! He is both funny and professional-sounding, perceiving the composer well! Who is he? 😄✨

[Psalmist]

This was both very entertaining and very educational! Well done! 👏 👏

[dash_user]

I like that fast paced video editing with AI images and strange facial expressions

[Frenchie]

Your channel is awesome, keep up the good work!!

[renelerenard]

I really like the fresh perspective of this video, and I think it's very unfair the way the public views Salieri. It was Mozart who coveted Salieri's position.

However, I think Mozart's sentiments in this video are a bit misunderstood. I think Mozart would have been jealous if he had complained about how Salieri's musical abilities were so much better than his own - which I don't think he even secretly thought. I think that, while he acknowledged Salieri's merits, he was puzzled as to why a far superior ability and god-given talent did not give him the position that Salieri held. Again, this is not envy, he didn't get a clue about it, and it made him frustrated.

[più_lento__]

wow, such a great video ! Phenomenal research and work behind it. You’ve shed an entire new light on this whole story for me. I thought Salieri secretly wanted to hinder Mozart’s career, but turns out the man was pretty genuine, and Mozart … well, being Mozart lol. Great video again, and also the way you narrate things is really good. Thank you Monique !

[GeraldWilhelmBradenComposer]

It's true that Salieri was a very good composer, and composed a wonderful and respected collection of compositions during his lifetime. Though it is also true, that Salieri was in no way as gifted as Mozart was. It's also true that Mozart was probably very jealous of the fact that Salieri received more attention from the court, the Emperor, and his group of musical minions in the aristocracy that "controlled" what was considered "the best music" for the public. Salieri was also well liked by the aristocracy, because he bowed to their desires, where as Mozart would not, and was often considered a trouble maker and irreverent to the aristocracy and church officials. Mozart knew he was the best composer and musician, and I'm sure he was always very frustrated that he didn't receive the attention he deserved while he was alive. This frustration is most probably what led to his excessive drinking and gambling, and eventually to his early demise. The Amadeus film was not historically correct, though it was still very wonderful and dramatic, and "much" of the story was true. I'm from Vienna, and grew up on the music of Mozart, and of course, music all the other great "sauerkraut eaters." Though as "usual, " the test of time has determined who was the best composer, as Mozart's works are still performed and admired today, where as most of Salieri's music is hardly ever performed or recognized today. ... Peace and Love! 🎼❤☮

[fedezzefelbudapestet]

Salieri was living rent free into Mozarts mind

[gaboelexo]

What an oustanding video about one who has been bashed by people who dont really dive into history, thank you, this was truly amazing <3. And of course the master of liszt, beethoven, schubert is one of the greatest ever, a brilliant man. "Amadeus is still the best movie about musicians tho 😂"

[ShadowCXC-okff]

¡Another greatly developed video, awesome!

[Brandonwashere]

The video you showed me on discord is here at last well done moniii!

[caterscarrots]

I like the perspective you give here on the relationship between Mozart and Salieri. I do think it's unfair how the public sees Salieri and his music as second rate in comparison to Mozart. I have heard Salieri's 28 Variations on La Folia for orchestra and it's just as great of music in my opinion as any Mozart symphony.

[MrWoodCy]

Salieri also conducted Mozart symphonies and masses throughout the latter part of the 1780s to the end of Mozart’s life.

[bibobabu]

Damn your video editing skills are amazing… Which programs do you use?

[choo]

Fun Fact : Mozart wrote a letter to his father saying that he hated the idea of Italians occupying most of the musician jobs in royal court at the time. Salieri being one of them, it is safe to assume that Mozart was more than likely jealous/envious of Salieri for that reason.

[danielgloverpiano]

I think Mozart was also jealous of Clementi. He never had a good thing to say about him and particularly singled out his ability to play double thirds. It’s obvious from his music that Mozart was less interested in virtuosity. I think Clementi’s piano prowess triggered Mozart and it didn’t help that their famous duel ended in a “draw.”