Amadeus

By: Peter Shaffer

Narrated by: Steven Brand, James Callis, Michael Emerson, Darren Richardson, Alan Shearman, Mark Jude Sullivan

Ambition and jealousy - all set to music. Devout court composer Antonio Salieri plots against his rival, the dissolute but supremely talented Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. How far will Salieri go to achieve the fame that Mozart disregards? The 1981 Tony Award winner for Best Play.

Recorded before a live audience at the UCLA James Bridges Theater in September, 2016.

Directed by Rosalind Ayres

Producing Director Susan Albert Loewenberg

Steven Brand as Baron van Swieten

James Callis as Mozart

Michael Emerson as Salieri

Darren Richardson as Venticello 2

Alan Shearman as Count Orsini-Rosenberg

Mark Jude Sullivan as Venticello 1

Simon Templeman as Joseph II

Brian Tichnell as Count Johann Kilian Von Strack

Jocelyn Towne as Constanze

Associate Artistic Director, Anna Lyse Erikson. Sound Designer, Recording Engineer, and Mixer, Mark Holden for The Invisible Studios, West Hollywood. Foley Artist, Jeff Gardner. Production Manager, Tori Burnett. Editor, Mitchell Lindskoog. Music Supervisor, Scott Willis. Foreign Language Consultant, Matthew Wolf. Select Original Sound Design by Darron L. West, performed by Victor Zupnac.

©1979 Peter Shaffer (P)2017 L.A. Theatre Works

A CHARMING PIECE

A charming piece. Very intense and well performed. No wonder it became an instant classic.

Astounding

I admit openly that I only knew of the 1984 Best Picture “Amadeus.” I knew the movie was based on a play but hadn’t bothered to read or watch it. For decades. I’m so glad I found this theater production. It absolutely blew me away and I can’t wait to track down a live performance of this play and watch it.

The perfect amount of notes!

A tremendous audio play merging fact with fiction to create a great drama. My only critique is I wish there was more about Mozart's dreams and him writing the Requiem.

So glad this is available, but...

I must say up front that I love this play, and I have yet to see or perform the version done here- Shaffer’s last rewrite. I’m so happy that this has been made available, and by such extraordinary actors. However...

The performance speeds through two glorious hours, but the play requires more breathing room. At times it was moving so fast I got the feeling Michael Emerson, who I believe is a talented actor, did not understand what he was saying. The performances were robbed of the subtleties that are throughout the play, all for the sake of speed.

If you’re not familiar with the play- which is quite different from the film, you may be confused at times, but it’s still a great introduction to one of the finest plays of the 20 century.

Brilliant performance by Michael Emerson

brilliant performance by Michael Emerson as Salieri! the rest of the cast is excellent as well.