In 18th-century Vienna, Antonio Salieri, the celebrated court composer to Emperor Joseph II, finds himself consumed by obsessive jealousy upon encountering Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a young musical prodigy whose genius is unparalleled. Despite Mozart's crass and childish behavior, his music captivates Salieri, who views Mozart's divine talent as a cruel joke by God, given to someone so unworthy in Salieri's eyes. Salieri's reverence for music and his ambition to create heavenly compositions clash with his growing envy, setting him on a dark path of rivalry and desperation.

As Salieri becomes increasingly entangled in Mozart's world, he positions himself as the young composer's confidant to sabotage his career while publicly maintaining the facade of a supportive colleague. The dynamic between the mediocre court composer and the brilliant Mozart plays out against the backdrop of the opulent Austro-Hungarian Empire, filled with palace intrigues, sumptuous feasts, and grand performances. Salieri witnesses Mozart's struggles for recognition and financial security even as the latter creates sublime and transformational works, further fueling Salieri's bitter resentment.