Melbourne Symphony Orchestra – Marvellous Mozart

ANAM’s Artistic Director Paavali Jumppanen leads the MSO from the piano for this vivid insight into Mozart’s brilliance.

Given his reputation as a larger-than-life trickster, it’s little surprise that Mozart’s capacity for crafting characters from sound is unparalleled. ANAM’s Artistic Director Paavali Jumppanen leads the MSO from the piano for this vivid insight into Mozart’s brilliance.

Mozart’s Concert-Rondo provides a charming opener to set the stage for the two works to come. Mozart originally composed this set of variations for Piano and Orchestra as an alternate finale for his Piano Concerto No.5.

Both Piano Concertos No.23 and No.24 were composed in 1786 while Mozart was immersed in writing his operatic comedy The Marriage of Figaro, and both are infused with a sense of drama. The 23rd evokes thematic material from Figaro, tempering its bustling, playful energy with almost unbearable longing.

Piano Concerto No.24 takes us to another realm entirely. Out of a dark, mystical opening emerges a tender and vulnerable piano solo – our characters are set – and a raging battle between ruthless power and quiet honesty ensues. While written years before his opera The Magic Flute, the counterpoint of unbridled fury and grounded simplicity in this concerto feels like a premonition of his famous Queen of the Night aria.

Pre-Concert Talk

Please join Melbourne Symphony Orchestra for a pre-concert talk in Elisabeth Murdoch Hall from 6.45pm – 7.05pm.