Why Mozart Was Impoverished

and what it can teach us about the writer's strike

One of the most highly-rated and heavily awarded films of all time is the 1984 biographical drama, Amadeus, featuring Tom Hulce as Mozart in his greatest role and F. Murray Abraham as his tortured, puritanical rival, Antonio Salieri. It’s a riveting tale and arguably the best fusion of story and score ever put on screen, ending with (spoiler alert) the tragic dumping of Mozart’s body in an unmarked mass pauper’s grave.

Here’s a 5-minute no-copyright version of my favorite Mozart composition on YouTube.

The question that haunts us is: Why was Mozart impoverished? This was no genius whose greatness was discovered after he died.

How could this happen to the greatest conductor of all time, whose works are not only world-famous today but were beloved and widely played a million times on pianos around the world during his 35 years alive?

The answer may surprise you, and it relates directly to the advice Socrates (who was born poor) gave to his scribbling pupil Plato (who was born wealthy). I’ll give you a hint: