Better known today for the musical personalities with whom he was associated than for himself, the Italian musician Antonio Salieri nevertheless enjoyed wide recognition as a conductor and opera composer in Vienna and Paris during the 1770s and 1780s.
Of course, none of this was picked up by the 1984 film Amadeus, which, according to legend, decided to feature him as Mozart's alleged poisoner, albeit in a comedy tone.
The truth is that among the many illustrious pupils Salieri took in – Beethoven, Schubert, Liszt, Czerny –, there was one by the name of Franz Xavier Mozart, a son of Wolfgang Amadeus.
Then as now, no one is taught by someone who has poisoned his father.
Early years
Born in Legnago, today in the province of Verona, Italy, in 1750, Antonio Salieri received his first lessons from his older brother, and at the age of 18 he composed his first opera, La Vestale, now lost and probably not a major success.
But he recovered in 1771 with Armida, which for the 21-year-old Antonio Salieri was a great step forward, since it secured him a prominent position among the musical circles of Vienna, where he had arrived in 1766, under the guidance of Florian Gassmann, the court composer.
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| Antonio Salieri (1750 - 1825) |
Upon Gassmann's death in 1774, he assumed his position as well as that of director of the city's Italian Opera Company. This was followed by an increasingly successful career in Milan, Venice, and Paris. From then until 1790 Salieri would live his best years; he is one of the most prominent figures in musical Europe and occupies a social position that none of his talented contemporaries, including Mozart, could ever attain. There was, therefore, no need to poison anyone.
Piano Concerto in C major
Primarily a composer of operas, Antonio Salieri wrote a modest number of instrumental works. These include two piano concertos. The C Major Concerto, composed in 1773, is presented here.
Gallant in style, its movements are:
00 Allegro maestoso
08:58 Larguetto
16:00 Andantino
The rendition is by South Korean pianist Heeguin Kim, accompanied by the Amadeus Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Yongho Choi.
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