(voice) un: amadeus

[fordeath]

Name: w. a. mozart
Date: backdated to mid-maiuril
Format: voice

[ for those who know him, this post by amadeus is lacking in its usual energy and jubilance, instead weighed down by measured thoughtfulness. it's also a long time coming: he has been mysteriously missing from the theater scene for some months now. ]

When the Teatro Regio Ducale in Milan was destroyed by fire, it was rebuilt the Teatro alla Scala in 1778 and gracefully inaugurated with an opera by none other than Antonio Salieri himself. —L'Europa riconosciuta, in case you wondered.

It feels wrong to celebrate the legalizing of theater without him here, when he was so integral to its passing. He was my partner in all things, including the year-long endeavor it took to get here.

... Still, we have the rest of the Council to thank, and all of you who lent a hand in the past. Thank you, truly. It meant a great deal to us old art fogies.

Comments

[towards_okeanos]

Forgive me for asking what might be a question with an obvious answer but... are you truly talking about a theatre here? In this city?

[Iskandar has been away a lot and even when he was in Aefenglom he has been busy with some rather absorbing personal matters. AND YET. If there's a theatre in this city how, in name of all the gods, is it that he had missed it?!]

[fordeath]

I'm afraid I've been out of the scene for some time myself, but I have no doubt those eager and talented folks are scheduling their new ... public program as we speak.

[ after all, the underground ones have existed all this time. ]

Isn't it amazing?

[towards_okeanos]

So it is true! How splendid!

[Iskandar can barely believe this. The city is vast but he had expected to hear at least a rumour of such happenings. Yet none has reached his ears. The underground theatre must have had some staunch supporters that they were able to keep it a secret.]

It is! It is! Do you perchance know what's in the repertoire?

[fordeath]

[ hearing iskander's genuine excitement is a welcome and sorely needed reminder that this is a cause to celebrate. a true patron for the arts, this man. ]

The theater certainly has an extensive catalogue to choose from, including my own work and Salieri's, but chances are they'll want something new for the occasion.

[ he's not saying "we" just yet. ] Oh, but I'll be sure to pass along any requests you might have.

[towards_okeanos]

I must say I'd be most delighted to attend any play by Aristophanes. It's been ages since I saw any of his works.

[He did read great comedian's more recent works... though recent might not be an appropriate word to use right now. They were recent when he read them. Not so recent anymore...]

If I had to choose one, I'd love to see Lysistrata, I always regretted I never had the chance to see it on stage.

[Sadly, all the conquering hardly left him with time to spend on cultural events.]

[fordeath]

I'll put the good word in, my friend. If that troupe has taken my unreasonable demands in stride, the classics will surely be no match for them, in spite of them being entirely foreign.

[ honestly, amadeus isn't all that well-versed in ancient plays. salieri, on the other hand, certainly paid attention to his extracurricular studies. ah well... ]

Unfortunately, my heart lies with opera, myself. How do you feel about those, Your Majesty?

[towards_okeanos]

[Now, here's one that knows how to talk to royalty.]

I am afraid this opera you speak of was not a thing known in my time. [Mainly because it did not exist yet.] Alas, you are making me regret I haven't paid closer attention to cultural life in this city.

Would you mind explaining how it differs from tragedy or comedy?

[fordeath]

[ who knew decades of schmoozing every other court official for a paycheck in his first life would equip him with the skills needed to keep ancient kings from incinerating him on the spot in his second?

mostly. ]

Oh, opera is only an evolution of those forms. [ evolution, he says. frank. ] An opera can be a comedy, tragedy, seria or buffa, or any number of genres. The difference being that the stories are told entirely through music. Powerful music, at that. ... At least, when I'm involved.

[towards_okeanos]

That so.

[It is only natural that forms will be perfected over time as more and more master artisans attempt them. But to take theatre play and tell it solely through music? That is quite a novel thing to do.]

Entirely through music. Does that mean there are no actors involved?

[He hopes not. It would make a whole thing rather static. Very untheatrical in his opinion.]

Voice;

[fiddlestick]

Oh no, Salieri's gone? I'm sorry Amaedeus. What terrible timing too.

[fordeath]

Thank you, Elliot. Truthfully, this place has only given me one miracle after another. I should have been suspicious. [ a quick chuckle. ]

[fiddlestick]

Yeah, I know that feeling.

I'm glad you got to do that opera with him though. And now you can make shows in his honor without skirting around the law!

[fordeath]

[ he wonders how long it'll be before he feels up to doing things in salieri's honor, as though he were passed. ]

Eheh. As it happens, there are still some restrictions involved. Although nothing my genius self can't handle. [ wow ]

[fiddlestick]

Ah, yes of course. And I'm sure you'll follow the restrictions to the letter too.

[He says in a completely deadpan tone]

[fordeath]

[ his lips lift in a small smile, barely audible ]

There's a certain magic inherent to music. Wouldn't you agree?

The Council's heart was certainly in the right place, but I'm still not sure they understand the arts entirely.

[fiddlestick]

Well of course! I'm a strong believer in the power of music.

And you're just the one to make them fully understand?

[fordeath]

One step at a time.

Of course, magical music isn't banned, but I can't very well leave the troupe behind to fight for their plays on their own.

[fiddlestick]

Haha, of course not. That wouldn't be right.

Well I still have my own projects outside theater, but you ever need a violinist, just let me know!

un: gioia.

[trouvaille]

I've spent quite a lot of time loitering in La Scala. I'll look forward to seeing legal theatre here.

[fordeath]

[ "loitering" — that makes him snort. how liberating it is to be rid of the shrewd art-inclined nobility in this world. ] Did you? They wouldn't even let me loiter about.

It'll be some time, I imagine, before all of Aefenglom's theaters are as polished and glamorous as La Scala.

[trouvaille]

What, you didn't get sound-check back in the day?

( teasing, but also god she wants to hear about la scala when it was new so bad. )

Everything starts somewhere.

[fordeath]

None other than a faith in reliable acoustics. ... That would be my guess, anyway. I was only ever a member of the audience, I'm afraid.

Perhaps they'll even install a few casinos to complete renovations.

[trouvaille]

I've rehearsed there, but never performed. When I first went along with my father's tours, I was small enough he'd sit me under the piano while he was rehearsing or running through checks.

Aefen-Carlo, hm.

voice

[enkidoh]

[Enkidu listens to his voice. It sounds a little different and they have no idea what an opera is.]

He is gone as well?

[Enkidu's voice sounds soft and very tired.]

I am glad the theatre remains.

[Wasn't it legal before, then?]

[fordeath]

[ you and him both, enkidu. ] Yeah, me too.

You said "as well," didn't you?

[enkidoh]

Otherwise you had no place to make your music. Or to live.

I did. Many others have left as well. Lots of others managed to find their way home again.

[fordeath]

[ he laughs a little at that. ] Well, let's be clear, my music certainly thrives best in opera, but I'm flexible genius enough to write for any occasion.

—I see. "Home." I'd hazard a guess that to Salieri, this place was home.

[enkidoh]

Will you play some for me?

[A pause...]

Doesn't he have an own place to call home? Chaldea is...not a home. At least...not for me.

[thejoyrider]

I am sure he would have been happy to hear this.

I hope that we can tell him someday.

[Marie is taking it well but guess what, she is still sad about Salieri’s absence]

[fordeath]

[ though he thought he was sufficiently well-adjusted before putting this message out, his heart wrenches hearing marie like that.

amadeus has little hope himself, so he allows marie's to carry him. ]

You always know the perfect thing to say, Maria, but your harmony is waning.

... Still, thank you.

[thejoyrider]

[Of course it is, but does he really have to point it out? After she made the effort to stay as positive as she could about the situation so Amadeus would not have to worry about her.

This is, of course pointless, because even if it was not for their Bond revealing their emotions, neither of them could pretend they are fine]

No need to thank me. Is there anything I could do for you?