Mozart, Schubert and once again Mozart.
The Flute and Harp Concerto and Schubert Symphony #9 “The Great” with Grand Rapids Symphony (last week) and today (Sunday) the amazing Gran Partita (Serenade #10) by Mozart.
I am playing the clarinet and conducting tomorrow. This one of a kind serenade (also sound track to Amadeus) is the only piece on the program for Huntsville Symphony’s Casual Classics #1 at the Early Works Museum. We are serving dinner with the music, or music with dinner; just like it used to be done in the days of Mozart.
As for the concerts with Grand Rapids Symphony last week: I rearranged the seating for the Schubert Symphony. I put the woodwinds in the front of the orchestra since they are playing a major and solo role throughout the entire piece. (Also you play and listen differently if put in an unusual set up.) This way I could focus the attention to the chamber music qualities of this indeed lengthy and great symphony. In the first half of the concert we performed another composition in C Major (by Wolfie himself, and another piece from the Amadeus sound-track). Beth Colpean and Chris Kantner played beautifully. Assistant Principal oboe, Alexander Miller composed the candenzas. It was a real home-grown project, also my second (fun-)time with the GR Symphony.
See review and pictures here
I had fun by doing the preconcert talks, called “UpBeat” as well. I showed a picture of Mozart, of Schubert, then a photo of one of my favorite sweets, Mozartkugel. Then I showed the picture of Schubertkugel, which was practically just the blank screen. No Schubertkugel exists. With all his problems and battles to fight, Mozart has always been a bigger commercial success than Franz Schubert. However, I am pretty sure, there is something named after Schubert in the great city of Vienna. Most likely a piece of cake or some melange (coffee+cocoa) with whipped-cream.
One more thing: Salieri was not the villain showed in the movie Amadeus (based on a play). Among other things he was the mentor and teacher of young Schubert himself.
