Amadeus Page #10

Embarrassed, Mozart bursts into a wild giggle. Joseph helps

him out.

JOSEPH:

You know all these gentlemen, I'm

sure.

Von Strack and Bonno nod.

JOSEPH:

The Baron Von Swieten.

VON SWIETEN:

I'm a great admirer of yours, young

man. Welcome.

MOZART:

Oh, thank you.

JOSEPH:

The Director of our Opera. Count

Orsini-Rosenberg.

MOZART:

(bowing excitedly)

Oh sir, yes! The honour is mine.

Absolutely.

Orsini-Rosenberg nods without enthusiasm.

JOSEPH:

And here is our illustrious Court

Composer, Herr Salieri.

SALIERI:

(taking his hand)

Finally! Such an immense joy. Diletto

straordinario!

MOZART:

I know your work well, Signore. Do

you know I actually composed some

variations on a melody of yours?

SALIERI:

Really?

MOZART:

Mio caro Adone.

SALIERI:

Ah!

MOZART:

A funny little tune, but it yielded

some good things.

JOSEPH:

And now he has returned the

compliment. Herr Salieri composed

that March of Welcome for you.

MOZART:

(speaking expertly)

Really? Oh, grazie, Signore! Sono

commosso! E un onore per mo

eccezionale. Compositore brilliante

e famossissimo!

He bows elaborately. Salieri inclines himself, dryly.

SALIERI:

My pleasure.

JOSEPH:

Well, there it is. Now to business.

Young man, we are going to commission

an opera from you. What do you say?

MOZART:

Majesty!

JOSEPH:

(to the courtiers)

Did we vote in the end for German or

Italian?

ORSINI-ROSENBERG

Well, actually, Sire, if you remember,

we did finally incline to Italian.

VON STRACK:

Did we?

VON SWIETEN:

I don't think it was really decided,

Director.

MOZART:

Oh, German! German! Please let it be

German.

JOSEPH:

Why so?

MOZART:

Because I've already found the most

wonderful libretto!

ORSINI-ROSENBERG

Oh? Have I seen it?

MOZART:

I - I don't think you have, Herr

Director. Not yet. I mean, it's quite

n - Of course, I'll show it to you

immediately.

ORSINI-ROSENBERG

I think you'd better.

JOSEPH:

Well, what is it about? Tell us the

story.

MOZART:

It's actually quite amusing, Majesty.

It's set - the whole thing is set

in a - in a -

He stops short with a little giggle.

JOSEPH:

Yes, where?

MOZART:

In a Pasha's Harem, Majesty. A

Seraglio.

JOSEPH:

Ah-ha.

ORSINI-ROSENBERG

You mean in Turkey?

MOZART:

Exactly.

ORSINI-ROSENBERG

Then why especially does it have to

be in German?

MOZART:

Well not especially. It can be in

Turkish, if you really want. I don't

care.

He giggles again. Orsini-Rosenberg looks at him sourly.

VON SWIETEN:

(kindly)

My dear fellow, the language is not

finally the point. Do you really

think that subject is quite

appropriate for a national theatre?

MOZART:

Why not? It's charming. I mean, I

don't actually show concubines

exposing their! their! It's not

indecent!

(to Joseph)

It's highly moral, Majesty. It's

full of proper German virtues. I

swear it. Absolutely!

JOSEPH:

Well, I'm glad to hear that.

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