Spokane Symphony explores Mozart’s friends and foes

Apr 21, 2009

For Immediate Release

Contact: Annie Matlow 464-7071

SPOKANE – The Spokane Symphony will explore Mozart’s competition in the third of the Casual Classics Anatomy of a Composer series. Under the direction of Music Director Eckart Preu, the symphony will perform works by Mozart, Salieri, Cimarosa, von Dittersdorf, and Haydn. The concert will take place in the Martin Woldson Theater at the Fox on Friday, May 1 at 8 pm. Patrick McNally will be featured on double bass.

An Anatomy of a Composer – the Good, the Bad and the Jealous promises to give listeners the whole scoop on what was going on when some of the world’s greatest music was written. In addition, the Art Deco Bistro will be inaugurated in the Founders Gallery of the Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox. A selection of Happy Hour appetizers and beverages, prepared by GloverMansion chefs, will be served from 6:30 p.m. to concert time.

Mozart, one of the most prolific and influential composers of the Classical era, will be the focus of this concert, along with his peers. The first selection, the overture to Così fan Tutte, is one of the last operas Mozart wrote. It is also one of the most performed operas in North America. Often seen as one of Mozart’s more risqué operas, the overture depicts Mozart in the height of his creativity.

The next selection is the overture to Cublai gran kan de’ Tatari, by Antonio Salieri. Salieri, definitely one of Mozart’s foes, was an Italian composer and conductor and was once accused of setting roadblocks to prevent Mozart from obtaining certain posts or from staging his operas. There is more evidence of cooperation than enmity though, with Salieri eventually teaching one of Mozart’s sons.

Cimarosa was considered the premier opera buffa composer of his time. An Italian as well, he considered Il Matromonio Segreto his masterpiece. The overture to this opera depicts the humorous tale of a secret marriage. The story is surrounded by scheming and amorous intrigue, eventually ending happily.

Patrick McNally will be featured on double bass for the performance of C. D. von Dittersdorf’s Double Bass Concerto in E Major. McNally is the principal double bass for the Spokane Symphony. Dittersdorf, an Austrian composer and violinist composed several operas, symphonies, oratorios and cantatas, although many of his works, excluding his concerti for double bass and harp, are not played today.

Haydn, Mozart’s teacher and friend, was one of the most prominent Classical era composers. The Overture to an English opera “WindsorCastle” depicts Haydn at the peak of his creativity.

The final piece will bring the audience back to Mozart, with his Symphony No. 35, “Haffner.” This symphony, commissioned by the Haffners, a prominent Salzburg family, runs the emotional gamut. Audiences will notice the piece go from fiery to graceful to bright and cheerful and then back to fiery.

The music of this concert is all easy to listen to. The hardest part will be deciding which composers were friends or foes of Mozart, and deciding which is which.

This concert is underwritten by LeMaster Daniels and Sylvan Learning Center.

Tickets are $21, $23, $28, and $32.  Tickets are available in advance at the Spokane Symphony Ticket office, 1001 W. Sprague, or by calling 509-624-1200. Tickets are also available at all TicketsWest outlets or by calling 1-800-325-SEAT, or at spokanesymphony.org.