Salieri, Antonio

Antonio Salieri was an Italian composer and teacher of the classical period, born on August 18, 1750, in Legnago, south of Verona, in the Republic of Venice. He is known for his significant contributions to the development of late 18th-century opera and was a pivotal figure in the Viennese classical music scene.

Salieri’s career was marked by his role as a teacher and mentor to many prominent composers, including Franz Liszt, Franz Schubert, Ludwig van Beethoven, Anton Eberl, Johann Nepomuk Hummel, and Franz Xaver Wolfgang Mozart. He was appointed the director of the Italian opera by the Habsburg court in 1774 and held this position until 1792. During his tenure, he dominated Italian-language opera in Vienna and also wrote works for opera houses in Paris, Rome, and Venice.

His best-known work is the French opera “Tarare” (1787), which was later translated into Italian as “Axur, re d’Ormus.” This opera was preferred by the Viennese public over Mozart’s “Don Giovanni”2. Salieri’s last opera was performed in 1804, after which he devoted himself to composing sacred music.

Salieri’s relationship with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has been a subject of much speculation. Despite rumors that they were bitter rivals and that Salieri had poisoned Mozart—a claim that has been proven untrue—historical evidence suggests that they were at least mutually respectful peers.

Antonio Salieri passed away on May 7, 1825, in Vienna. His legacy includes a vast body of work that continues to be studied and performed today.