“There are just as many notes as I required,neither more nor less.”
Por qué es buena
The neither-nor ending is polite and absolutely firm.
Registro
Formal
Úsala tú
Not a word more or less; the draft stays.
00:00 / 04:41
00:00 / 04:41
Too Many Notes, Mozart, Explained
Amadeus · 1984
Capítulo 7 de 25 · 4'41"
The Emperor congratulates Mozart with faint praise: "A good effort." When pressed, he lands on the verdict that has followed the opera ever since - "Too many notes" - and Salieri politely agrees. Mozart fires back, "Which few did you have in mind?" Then the talk shifts from music to marriage.
Key moments
Start here, then watch the full scene- 0:13–1:04
The Emperor's Faint Praise
52s - 1:01–1:49
Too Many Notes
48s
Too Many Notes, Mozart, explained
What happens
After a performance of his opera, Mozart waits for the Emperor's verdict. Joseph offers polite praise first - "A good effort" - then admits the music seems a touch crowded, and finally delivers the famous judgment: "Too many notes." Mozart protests and asks which notes should go. The scene then turns domestic as the Weber family arrives and the Emperor urges Mozart to marry Constanze and stay in Vienna.
What's really going on
The Emperor's praise is a trap of manners. "A good effort" sounds kind, but it grades Mozart like a student, and the room can hear the criticism coming. When the verdict arrives - "Too many notes" - it is not a musical judgment at all: it is a court deciding how much art it is willing to sit through. Salieri's answer, "On the whole, yes, Majesty," is the quiet center of the scene; he agrees with the Emperor while the audience knows what he thinks of Mozart. Mozart makes it worse for himself with "Which few did you have in mind?", a question no courtier would ask. The comedy and the cruelty are the same gesture: taste used as a weapon, and a genius who will not pretend otherwise.
Key lines & what they mean
- “There are just as many notes as I required,neither more nor less.”
- Mozart's defense: every note is deliberate, so the criticism is not about trimming but about refusing his music as written.
- “And there are simply too many notes. Just cut a few and it'll be perfect.”
- The Emperor's famous verdict - he treats a finished work like a draft and offers editing advice as if it were obvious.
- “Young man,don't take it too hard. Your work is ingenious.”
- The softening after the blow: praise for Mozart's ingenuity bundled with a reminder that he is young and should accept the judgment.
- “Well,of course I did! It's very good!”
- The Emperor's initial praise, warm but vague - he approves of the work in the abstract before he can name what bothers him.
- “An excellent effort! You have shown us something...”
- More courtly encouragement that carefully stops short of real enthusiasm, praising the effort rather than the achievement.
Theme
- Power — The Emperor dictates taste and timeliness; his casual verdict on notes decides how Mozart's genius is received at court.
- Pride — Mozart refuses to accept the criticism politely, turning a social moment into a public argument he cannot win.
Qué aprendes en este capítulo
Puntos de enseñanza
Repasa justo después de verMi nivel4/6
A1–C2 es la escala MCER. Las tarjetas por encima del nivel elegido se atenúan y la reproducción no se pausa en ellas.
Puntos de lengua
Toca una tarjeta para saltar a ese momentoFrases de oro
Una gran frase en sí misma: por qué y cómo usarla“And there are simply too many notes. Just cut a few and it'll be perfect.”
Por qué es buena
An amateur verdict delivered as friendly advice, which is what makes it funny.
Registro
Neutral
Úsala tú
Just cut a few slides and the talk will be perfect.
“Young man,don't take it too hard. Your work is ingenious.”
Por qué es buena
Soothing and cutting in one breath, the perfect tone of a man in charge.
Registro
Neutral
Úsala tú
Don't take it too hard; the review was harsh on everyone.
“Well,of course I did! It's very good!”
Por qué es buena
Of course makes the agreement emphatic, which makes the later carping funnier.
Registro
Informal
Úsala tú
Of course I enjoyed it; I would go again.
“An excellent effort! You have shown us something...”
Por qué es buena
The praise trails off, hinting at the criticism everyone can feel coming.
Registro
Formal
Úsala tú
An excellent effort, but the timing is off.
Siguiente · 08the fault is mineLa escena: Salieri Learns Mozart Had KaterinaIdeas clave
Lo que te llevas- Take it too hard means being upset more than necessary.
- Cut a few means remove a small number.
- How shall one say buys time before a delicate word.
- Neither more nor less is a firm, polite refusal.
Preguntas frecuentes
La pregunta, luego la fraseWhy does the Emperor say there are too many notes?
He is not really counting. It is a court judgment about how demanding the music is, expressed as if it were a simple excess that could be trimmed for comfort.
Was the Emperor right about the music?
The line is remembered as the court's failure, not Mozart's. The opera has lasted, and the remark survives as shorthand for people unable to hear what they are judging.
Why does Salieri agree with the Emperor?
He is court composer and is asked directly what an audience can take. Agreeing costs him nothing publicly and keeps him in favor while Mozart argues.
Why does Mozart ask which few notes should be cut?
He knows the criticism is meaningless, so he turns it back on the Emperor as a literal question. It is a pointed joke that no one at court can answer.
Why does the Emperor advise Mozart to marry Constanze?
He seems to like Constanze and wants Mozart settled in Vienna. His advice is also a way of keeping a useful young composer where the court can employ him.