In darkness, “savage whispers fill the theatre” (9). Antonio Salieri, an old man, sits in a wheelchair and the whisperers, the citizens of Vienna, hiss his name. The two Venticelli, “purveyors of fact, rumour, and gossip throughout the play” (9) enter and talk about Salieri, the famous musician who has been reclusive for 32 years, reportedly raving to himself. The gossip reaches a fever pitch and Salieri cries out, “MOZART!!!” (11). The whispers begin again, revealing that Salieri’s hermitage began when Mozart died. Some accused Salieri of poisoning Mozart. They whisper urgently, speculating about whether Salieri is guilty or if Mozart died of syphilis. The whisperers exit, leaving Salieri alone with his valet and cook. The scene takes place in Salieri’s apartments, in the early morning hours of November 1823. Salieri comments on the constant gossip and pleads for a confessor in “the last hour of [his] life” (14) and sends his two servants away because he does not plan to sleep.

Salieri sings an invocation to call forth the “Ghosts of the distant Future” (14), since that is how ghosts are summoned in operas. Satisfied that his invocation has been successful, Salieri is hungry and admits, “[T]he first sin I have to confess to you is Gluttony” (15).