Chamber Music Society of Colombo goes ‘All Mozart’

Friday, 23 September 2016 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Chamber Music Society in association with Premier Sponsor, Fairway Holdings are pleased to present ‘All Mozart’ on Wednesday 12 October at 7:30 p.m., at the Lionel Wendt Theatre, Colombo 7. Tickets will be priced between Rs. 2,500 and Rs. 500, and will be available at the Lionel Wendt box office from 26 September. The concert will mark the first full-ensemble concert of the CMSC’s 2016/17 season.

Mozart’s music has always been popular with the Colombo concert-going public, and the repertoire for this evening’s performance will include three of his works featuring two and four soloists. The first is the Concerto for Two Pianos (usually titled “Piano Concerto no. 10”), K. 365/316a, featuring the popular two-piano team of Ramya de Livera Perera and Soundarie David Rodrigo. It is presumed that Mozart wrote this concerto to play with his sister Maria Anna. Years later he performed it in a private concert with pupil Josepha Barbara von Auernhammer.

The first movement is lyrical and “wonderfully spacious, as if Mozart is thoroughly enjoying himself and letting his ideas flow freely,” as musicologist Ledbetter has noted. The middle movement is slow and refined; the orchestra stays in the background behind the pair of playful pianists. The finale is a rondo filled with rhythmic drive and, after passages of lyrical grace, there is an exuberant return to the main rondo theme.

The second is the rarely heard Concertone, K190/186efor two solo violins and orchestra written in 1774. An ambitious work of Mozart’s 18th year, he adds an additional solo complement of oboe and cello. The two violins trade effects antiphonally in music that would not be far out of place in a Vivaldi concerto grosso, while the oboe counters with more lyrical material. Its large slow movement is distinguished, as many would say, as un-Mozartian. This will feature concertmaster Lakshman Joseph de Saram, and associate concertmaster Ursula Nelius as soloists.

The third is the well-known Serenade no. 6 for four solo strings, string ensemble and timpani, better known as “Serenata Notturna”, with assistant concertmaster Cynthia Fernando, and Sulara Nanayakkara on violin, Othman H Majid, viola and Nilanthi Weerakoon, double bass.