Paul Scofield in Amadeus at the National Theatre

This was a magnificent production, and I was so lucky to work on it.

Such eloquent writing from Peter Shaffer, leaving Peter Hall needing little more to do than allow these gargantuan talents to just get on with it.

John Bury's set design and lighting were a revelation. I'd worked on many West End musicals with their huge rigs and staging, and here Bury's simplicity stunned me. It was minimal without being in the least bit austere. It was pure elegance. Except... except maybe for that huge chandelier (that my drinking buddy Steve Milne up in flies one day sent crashing to the stage!).

Young Simon Callow's Mozart was the performance of a lifetime. The part seemed written for him. And maybe it was - Shaffer would sit in on rehearsals making notes which would then become re-writes.

But the grand centerpiece was Scofield's Salieri. Watch this clip and weep. And somehow he did that every night...

I also worked on the NT tour with Frank Finlay playing the lead (Scofield refused to tour) and it was remarkable how the two men could deliver the same lines, with the same directions, and yet be so very different. Finlay was Everyman, consumed with jealousy, and feeling he deserved Mozart's genius. While Scofield was the cultured civilized man who really could claim some genuine title to it. A little ironic perhaps that Finlay was an active catholic, and on the tour would seek out the nearest RC church to pray each morning.

I shall never forget Scofield's performance. Such a brilliant actor, and the stage is now very much a lesser place without him.

• Category

  Entertainment

[Jon Darby]

Thank you for this.  Is this the production that featured Tim Curry as Amadeus?

[KarelBata]

Simon Callow. Read the blurb below the video for more info.

[GiantSails]

Thank you for sharing this with us. Could you upload the rest of this record? Or could you help me where can I watch it, or buy it?

Thank you

[KarelBata]

Unfortunately that's all I know of. Would love to see more myself. ;-)

[MrGrevy]

Best actor in history

[KarelBata]

Probably the best actor I've ever seen.

But in all history..? Dunno about that...

[miss mabel]

Fantastic, thanks for posting!

[billygowhoop]

what a performance.

[Zaza6076]

Scofield's voice for me will alwayr super impose his voice on this text. Thanks

[pantowriter]

Wonderful posting...as a young 16 year old I saw a national tour of the UK (in Poole, Dorset) with Keith Michell. He was also wonderful. I just remember the magnificence of the language!

[Tushar Oza]

I saw this production three times. Paul Scofield's performance is mesmerizing. If I am not mistaken, one of the two "Venticellies" was played by Ben Kingsley. Scofield's performance was magnificient and gave me goosebumps. Simply a delight to watch and hear Paul Scofield (A Man for All Seasons). Hats off!

[AnnieMarxdempsey]

Sheer perfection.

Thank you for sharing it with us!

Peace be with you, Lukerdog

[Christopher Saunders]

Thank you very much for this! I really love Scofield (A Man for All Seasons and The Train particularly) and wish he'd been willing or able to do the film of Amadeus. I can't claim to be a fan of it.

[MrGrevy]

Yes. History. Besides maybe Tyler Perry.