On Location: Will Sharpe and Paul Bettany on filming Amadeus in Budapest

"Will Sharpe (The White Lotus, Giri/Haji) brings a frenetic, distracted, energetic side to Mozart, one where you can all but see the cogs whirring in his brain as he composes opus after opus in real time. Paul Bettany (Wimbledon, The Da Vinci Code, and many a film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe) is equally brilliant in his portrayal of a devoutly religious, straight-laced Salieri, whose jealousy drives him to the brink of insanity."

"The latest portrayal of the duo comes from Joe Barton - the British screenwriter behind the likes of Black Doves and The Lazarus Project. The Sky series was adapted from the original 1979 play, Amadeus, where Wolfgang Mozart and Antonio Salieri are fierce rivals. Shaffer then adapted it for film, which went on to win eight Academy Awards, out of a nominated 11."

"What truly makes the series the showpiece that it is, however, is the sets and filming locations. Set in the Austrian capital of Vienna, we see everything from grand palaces under the court of Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor, to vast, majestic opera houses and creaky attic bedrooms where Mozart tinkered away on the harpsichord. The series offers a gripping, lively look at two composers bitterly competing and grappling for renown and success, all set withi"

The series revisits the long-mythologized rivalry between Wolfgang Mozart and Antonio Salieri across five hour-long episodes. Joe Barton adapts elements of the 1979 play and Shaffer’s film history into an expanded television narrative. Will Sharpe portrays Mozart as frenetic, distracted, and hyper-creative, while Paul Bettany plays a devout, straight-laced Salieri consumed by jealousy. The production emphasizes lavish period detail, from imperial Vienna palaces under Joseph II to grand opera houses and cramped attics where Mozart composes. The tone balances theatrical rivalry with intimate character study and visual spectacle, foregrounding performances and immersive sets.

Read at CN Traveller