Saving Mozart ★★ The Other Palace | Jul 28 - Aug 30, 2025


In this new musical the life of Mozart gets the Six treatment as the composer's biography becomes the thin thread on which to hang a number of pop songs. The young musical prodigy's issue with his overbearing father, Leopold, is referenced. Mozart's socially unacceptable marriage to his love Constanze and the rivalry with the composer Salieri, are also introduced, as is his chronic problem of indebtedness. The relationship with his talented sister, Nannerl, who is denied a career because of her gender, is apparently intended as a main plotline. However, all these complex issues get short shrift, as the emphasis of this show is on presenting the next pulsating production number and its club-style choreography. Indeed, apart from some pretty simplistic psychologising, there is no real attempt to unravel the mystery of Mozart's genius or his character. For the most part, this story has to be narrated rather than shown as there is a need to get on to the next song. The costuming is in the post-apocalyptic, New Romantic style favoured by these anachronistic historical pieces, but the significance of a frequent use of umbrellas remains unclear. While all of the cast bring considerable vocal talents to their roles, for us Erin Caldwell's work as Constanze, and that of Gloria Onitiri as Anna Maria Mozart/Cecilia stood out. Jack Chambers also displays a fine singing voice, but his character, Mozart, only hits one note. If Saving Mozart is to be rescued from being just another run-of-the-mill pop-musical, it needs some serious refocussing and reconsideration of what point it is trying to make about the genius whom Tchaikovsky called a musical Christ.

Rated: ★★

Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Danny Kaan

When, Where, Getting there:
Map & Location: 12 Palace St, London SW1E 5JA, UK

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