unsuitable for our theater?
Yes,sire.
Yet we hear you're making an opera from it. Is this true?
Who told you this,Majesty?
It is not your place to ask questions. Is it true?
Yes,I...
I admit it is.
Would you tell me why?
Majesty,it is only a comedy.
What you think is scarcely the point.
It's what His Majesty thinks that counts.
But,Your Majesty...
Mozart...
...I am a tolerant man.
I do not censor things lightly. When I do,I have good reason.
"Figaro" is a bad play.
It stirs up hatred between classes.
In France,it has caused only bitterness.
My sister Antoinette is beginning to be frightened of her own people.
I swear,there's nothing like that in the piece.
I've taken out everything that could give offense. I hate politics.
I'm afraid you're rather innocent.
In these dangerous times I cannot afford to provoke our people...
...simply over a theater piece.
Majesty,this is just a frolic. A piece about love.
"Love". Again!
And it's new!
It's entirely new. The people will go mad for it.
I have scenes...
The end of Act Il,for example.
It starts as a duet. A husband and wife quarreling.
Suddenly,the scheming maid comes in. It's a very funny situation.
Duet turns into trio.
Then the husband's valet comes in.
Trio turns into quartet.
Then a gardener. Quartet becomes quintet.
And so on,on and on.
Sextet,septet,octet.
How long do you think I can sustain that?
I have no idea.
Guess.
Guess,Your Majesty.
Imagine the longest time it could be sustained,then double it.
Well...
Six...
...seven minutes?
- Eight minutes? - Twenty,sire. Twenty minutes!
Twenty minutes of continuous music. No recitatives!
Sire,only opera can do this.
In a play,if more than one person speaks at once...
...it's just noise.
But with opera,with music...
...you can have 20 individuals all talking at the same time.
It's not noise. It's a perfect harmony!
Mozart,music is not the issue here.
No one doubts your talent. It's your literary judgment that's in question.
Even with the politics taken out,it would still remain a vulgar farce.
Why waste your spirit on such rubbish?
Surely you can choose more elevated themes.
Elevated! What does that mean,elevated?
I am fed to the teeth with these...
...elevated things. Old dead legends.
Why must we go on forever writing of gods and legends?
Because they do.
They go on forever.
At least what they represent: the eternal in us.
Opera is here to ennoble us,Mozart.
You and me,just the same as His Majesty.
"Bello,bello,bello." Come on now,be honest!
You'd rather listen to your hairdresser than Hercules,Horatius or Orpheus.
People so lofty,they sound as if they shit marble!
What!
Govern your tongue,Mozart! How dare you!
Forgive me,Majesty.
I'm a vulgar man...
...but I assure you,my music is not.
You are passionate,Mozart...
...but you do not persuade.
Sire,the whole opera is finished.
Do you know how much work went into it?
His Majesty has been more than patient,"Signore".
How can I persuade if I can't show it?
That will do,"Herr Mozart".
Just let me tell you how it begins.
May I just do that,Majesty? Show you how it begins? Just that?
Please.
Look...
There's a servant on his knees. Do you know why?
Not from oppression. He's measuring a space.
Do you know what for?
His bed. His wedding bed.
To see if it will fit!
Late.
Late!
On the beat.
Good!
Yes!
Early!
Well,Mozart is already rehearsing.
In that case,gentlemen,I think...
I think we should help Mozart all we can.
And protect him against the emperor's anger.
What anger?
About the ballet.
What ballet?
Excuse me...
...but didn't His Majesty specifically forbid the ballet in his opera?
- Herr Mozart! - Yes?
- A word with you. - Certainly,"Herr Direktor".
Now,"Herr Mozart"!
Five minutes,please.
Five minutes!
Yes?
Do you not know that His Majesty has expressly forbidden ballet in operas?
- It's not a ballet,it's a dance. - Exactly. A dance.
Surely,His Majesty didn't mean no dancing when