THE FINAL WORDS OF ANTONIO SALIERI:
“I remained in Vienna—City of Musicians—reverenced by all. And slowly I understood the nature of God’s punishment! What I had begged for in the church as a boy?
Was it not fame? Fame for excellence? Well now I had fame! I was to become quite simply the most famous musician in Europe!
I was to be bricked up in fame! Embalmed in fame! Buried in fame, but for work I knew to be absolutely worthless!
This was my sentence: I must endure thirty years of being called ‘Distinguished’ by people incapable of distinguishing!
I must survive to see myself become extinct!
Mozart’s music sounded louder and louder through the world! And mine faded completely, till no one played it at all!
I will be remembered! I will be remembered! If not in fame, then infamy.
I will whisper my name to you: “Salieri: Patron Saint of Mediocrities!”
[Salieri rises and looks out far into the darkness of the theatre.]
Mediocrities everywhere, now and to come, I absolve you all. Amen!"
[The light fades completely. The last four chords of the Masonic Funeral Music of Mozart sound throughout the theatre. END OF PLAY.] (pp. 93–97)
Shaffer, P. (1980). Amadeus. NY: Harper & Row.
Ruminate over those words for a while. My next 2 blogs will present my reflections on this quote. Let me know yours.
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