The Invisible Presence: Rethinking Antonio Salieri

A Conversation with Matthias Kadar

"He had a way to develop somebody's talent and to develop them to do even greater things than what he did."

Genius Salieri's Art of Teaching

Matthias Kadar on Antonio Salieri's forgotten influence

For many music lovers, Antonio Salieri remains associated with one persistent myth: the supposed rival of Mozart. Yet history tells a far richer story.

In his new book The Invisible Presence, composer and author Matthias Kadar explores a different Salieri — not as a controversial historical figure, but as one of the most influential teachers in music history.

What fascinated Kadar was a simple observation. Beethoven, Schubert, and Liszt all studied with Salieri, yet none of them sound remotely alike. How could one teacher shape such extraordinary composers without leaving an obvious stylistic fingerprint?

As a composer, educator, and passionate researcher of historical manuscripts, Kadar set out to investigate the question. His search led him to a surprising conclusion: perhaps a teacher's greatest achievement is not creating followers, but helping students discover their own artistic voice.

In this interview, Matthias Kadar reflects on creativity, musical identity, the relationship between teacher and student, and why Antonio Salieri deserves a fresh place in our understanding of music history.

▶ Watch the first part of the interview below.

Subtitles available in English and German (you'll find them in the settings)

Salieri as teacher, educational reformer, and lasting influence on musical practice.

In this interview, author Matthias Kadar explores the hidden influence of Antonio Salieri on the development of Western classical music. Far beyond the myths that have surrounded his name, Salieri emerges as a pivotal teacher, mentor, and musical innovator whose impact extended through generations of composers, singers, and musicians.

Kadar highlights Salieri's role as a renowned vocal pedagogue, director of the Viennese Conservatory, and advocate for musical literacy among singers. Through his students and educational reforms, Salieri helped shape performance practices that continue to influence classical music today. The discussion also reveals his surprising connection to the early promotion of the metronome, illustrating how his ideas helped guide the evolution of music far beyond his own compositions.

A fascinating look at why Salieri remains an "invisible presence" in classical music history—and why it may be time to make that influence visible again.

▶ Watch the second part of the interview below.

Subtitles available in English and German (you'll find them in the settings)

Matthias Kadar, composer and singer, is noted for his idiosyncratic musical language and distinct writing style.

Kadar studied composition and piano with Christian Lauba in Bordeaux and later with Theo Loevendie at the Amsterdam Conservatory.

He composed about 200 works for solo voice or instrument, ensemble, orchestra, and theatre that have been performed worldwide.

His collaborations as a composer/ singer have taken him and his compositions to the most prestigious concert halls and festivals in Europe, the USA, Australia, and Asia.

Together with Iván Fischer, he worked for more than a decade on different musical projects.

Matthias Kadar website