“The Events Surrounding the Death of Mozart” by Eugene N. Myers, distinguished professor emeritus of otolaryngology and emeritus chair, Department of Otolaryngology
6-7:15 p.m. Jan. 24, online

Following the untimely death of composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart at the age of 35, doctors have been obsessed with determining the cause. At last count there were 130 postmortem diagnoses in the medical literature. A week after he died, a Berlin newspaper falsely reported that he had been poisoned. The notion that the Court composer Antonio Salieri was jealous of Mozart’s superior musical output and poisoned him was further promoted by the movie Amadeus in 1984.

Myers, who also is president of Pittsburgh Festival Opera, hopes to absolve Salieri of guilt. The talk will be illustrated with musical excerpts from pianist Michael Hammer. The event is part of the CF Reynolds History of Medicine Lecture Series, co-sponsored by the Center for Bioethics & Health Law.

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