How Amadeus turns Mozart myths into Christmas TV gold

© music biopic comes close to Milo Forman's 1984 masterpiece, Amadeus, starring Cynthia Nixon and Tom Hulce.

- Patrick Smith, The Independent

Adapted by Peter Shaffer from his own 1979 stage play — itself inspired by Alexander Pushkin’s poetic i830 drama, Mozart and Salieri— the film is gaudy and provocative, a glittering two fingers up to historical accuracy. It’s based on a wild rumour: that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was driven to an early grave, aged 35, by the obsessively jealous court composer Antonio Salieri. But it’s also concerned with a deeper metaphysical question: why would a just God bestow genius on a giggling, foulmouthed vulgarian like Mozart while condemning the devout Salieri to recognise his own mediocrity? Not for nothing did the film sweep the Oscars with eight wins, including Best Picture and Best Director.

Now from Sky comes a new five-part adaptation of Shaffer's play. Reuniting some of the key players from the excellent Anglo-Japanese crime series Giri/Haji - writer Joe Barton, director Julian Farino and Bafta-winning actor Will Sharpe - it’s lavish and lively. Brilliantly acted, too.