Whether or not you're musically savvy, you can probably recognize at least one Mozart composition. So when you take your first steps into Symphony Hall for an evening of the famed Austrian composer's music, you'll likely do so with expectations for a night of greatness - and you won't be disappointed.
Now in its 125th season, the prestigious Boston Symphony Orchestra honors Mozart's 250th birthday this week with a performance nothing short of spectacular. Compiling most of Mozart's finest works, the BSO harmoniously weaves three masterpieces together in its program: "Serenade No. 6 in D," "Violin Concerto No. 5 in A," and the esteemed "Symphony No. 39 in E-flat."
The night opens with the "Serenade No. 6 in D, K.239, Serenada nottura" under the direction of venerated conductor Rafael Fr??hbeck de Burgos. The BSO plays in a happy, uplifting tone with just the right amount of frivolity to counter the rest of the evening's more serious aspects. The program's many facets are key to understanding Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a man who was as accomplished in all light forms of entertainment, including various dances and divertimenti, as he was in more austerely mysterious fare.
"Serenade"'s first movement begins with a march, typical of an 18th-century serenade with an added touch of grace and charm. Like much of Mozart's work, the piece is propelled into a maestosto, signaling a solemn yet grandiose aura. A veteran conductor of national orchestras the world over, de Burgos knows how to carry the symphony knowingly and powerfully, never failing to direct and change tempos. The "Serenada nottura," written in 1776, marks the beginning of Mozart's musical maturity.
De Burgos' talent and skill truly caters to the constant highs and lows of the evening's music, possessing the same qualities as Mozart himself. De Burgos also demonstrates skill in extracting the best out of the BSO, a testament to the orchestra's impeccable reputation for keeping in-sync. Whether it's the solo quartet in a 3/4 adagio or the full ensemble in a 2/4 allegro, the constant switching of tempos in the serenade does not distract the symphony from its sense of unity.
Nothing shows de Burgos' skill more than his connection with his musicians, something very apparent in the BSO's "Violin Concerto No. 5 in A." The concerto's solo violinist is Grammy Award-winning Gil Shaham, a skillful player with a great deal of talent and fame backing him.
Shaham demonstrates incredible respect for de Burgos as he takes cues from him. Likewise, de Burgos keeps all eyes on Shaham's profoundly passionate playing.
Shaham smiles at all of the concerto's sunny parts and intensifies his expression when Mozart's music turns dark. He captivates all those emotions on stage and in the audience as he mournfully plays Mozart's work with precision and accurate classical style. The 5th's most unforgettable moment - and an essential part of Mozart's violin concertos - is its "Turkish" finale: a vibrant arpeggio beautifully performed in A-major.
The BSO's lyrical and dramatic performance of the evening's final piece denotes a sense of lucid melody and autumnal crispness. Mozart's beloved "Symphony No. 39 in E-flat, K.543" was written in 1788, a time when the composer was experiencing severe financial troubles. Remarkably, though, this great symphony divulges no sign of melancholy, as the composer made a valiant attempt to recall his earlier years when his music was in constant demand throughout Vienna.
The 39th is a compilation of many tunes, ranging from A-flat major to C-flat minor. The BSO performs Mozart's "Symphony No. 39," a hauntingly perfect composition, in such a lush manner that the audience can't help but think the entire concert was performed simply for this piece.
The BSO's All-Mozart Program is a real treat and a culmination of the symphony's 125th season. It is a marvelous celebration of Mozart's life and is a must-see show for any aficionado of classical music.
