The Invisible Presence: Rethinking Antonio Salieri
A Conversation with Matthias Kadar
Mozart and Salieri: Beyond the Myth of Rivalry
Matthias Kadar on Antonio Salieri's forgotten influence
Was Antonio Salieri really the jealous rival of Mozart, as portrayed in the famous film "Amadeus"? In this revealing conversation, composer and author Matthias Kadár challenges one of classical music's most enduring legends.
Drawing on his research, Kadár presents a very different picture of Salieri: a highly respected composer, conductor, and extraordinary teacher who helped shape the talents of Beethoven, Schubert, and Liszt. He explores the true meaning of musical talent, the essential role of mentorship, and great teachers' responsibility to pass their knowledge to future generations.
The conversation also sheds new light on the relationship between Mozart and Salieri, suggesting that mutual respect and artistic collaboration—not jealousy—were at its heart. Kadár further examines how political and cultural tensions may have contributed to this lasting historical misconception.
An intriguing reassessment of Salieri's legacy and the power of musical education.
Antonio Salieri: The Forgotten Master Behind Great Composers
Matthias Kadar on Antonio Salieri's forgotten influence
Antonio Salieri was not only one of the most successful opera composers of his time, but also a generous colleague whose influence reached far beyond his own compositions.
In this fascinating continuation of our conversation, Matthias Kadár reveals the remarkable story of Salieri's friendship with Christoph Willibald Gluck, for whom he secretly composed an opera, allowing his friend to receive the recognition. We also discover the extraordinary popularity of Salieri's operas in France, particularly *Tarare*, which became an important part of Parisian musical life during the French Revolution.
But perhaps most intriguing is Kadár's exploration of Salieri's lasting musical influence. From the striking similarities between Salieri's *Der Rauchfangkehrer* and Mozart's overture to *The Marriage of Figaro*, to his impact on Beethoven, Schubert, Liszt, and even Berlioz, we discover a composer whose greatest ambition was not personal recognition, but the advancement of music itself.
A compelling portrait of an artist whose generosity, creativity, and musical vision deserve to be rediscovered.
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 music history's most influential teachers.
Kadar was fascinated by 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 teacher-student relationship, and why Antonio Salieri deserves a fresh place in our understanding of music history.
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 Antonio Salieri's hidden influence on the development of Western classical music. Far beyond the myths surrounding his name, Salieri emerges as a pivotal teacher, mentor, and musical innovator whose impact reached 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, showing how his ideas helped guide music's evolution 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.
Antonio Salieri - DIE UNSICHTBARE PRÄSENZ
Matthias Kadar
August 18, 2025, marked the 275th anniversary of Antonio Salieri's birth (1750-1825).
Matthias Kadar's tribute to the Italian-Austrian composer and music educator Antonio Salieri is available from Ries & Erler and can be ordered in its German version here.
An English translation will be announced soon!
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