Mozart's Journey

Item details

Date

Saturday, Nov 16, 2024 7:30PM

Name

Mozart's Journey - From London to Vienna

Description

Stéphane Denève, conductor
Behzod Abduraimov, piano

W.A. Mozart Symphony No. 1, K. 16
W.A. Mozart Piano Concerto No. 20, K. 466
W.A. Mozart Overture to Mitridate, rè di Ponto, K. 87
Anna Clyne Within Her Arms
W.A. Mozart Symphony No. 31, K. 297, “Paris”

📍 This concert takes place at Touhill Performing Arts Center 
🕒 1 hour, 45 min (including intermission)

The second concert of our Mozart celebration captures a composer on the move. We meet Mozart as an eight-year-old, dashing off his First Symphony in London. Then he’s in Italy, writing the fun-loving opera Mitridate, rè di Ponto. A stop in France for the fizzing “Paris” Symphony leads us to his later home in Vienna, where he wrote the Piano Concerto No. 20, performed with intensity here by Behzod Abduraimov.

A few things to know:

• Mitridate, rè di Ponto was written by the 14-year-old Mozart. The story takes place in ancient Turkey. King Mitridate and his two sons are in love with a princess. There is both drama and hijinks, which ends in a sort of happily ever after…
• Two works here are connected to the death of a composer’s mother: Anna Clyne’s Within Her Arms and Mozart’s “Paris” symphony. Clyne’s title comes from a poem by Thích Nhất Hạnh, which begins: “Earth will keep you tight within her arms dear one—So that tomorrow you will be transformed into flowers.”
• At aged 16 Uzbek pianist Behzod Abduraimov boarded a plane alone. Landing in Kansas City, he spoke no English and carried luggage bigger than himself. Two years later, his career exploded. He has said, “Music allows me to express my feelings, my emotions and share my love.”

Pronounciation Guide

• Stéphane Denève [steh-FAHN deh-NEHV] 
• Behzod Abduraimov [BAY-zhod aub-duh-RAY-mov]
• Mozart [MOH-tsahrt]