Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART: Don Giovanni – overture, K. 527
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K. 491
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Wolfgang Amadeus MOZART: Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K. 550

Mihály Berecz piano
Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra

Conductor: György Vashegyi

Can Mozart be anything but cheerful?

Yes, he can – and in fact, what set Mozart apart from his contemporaries was his highly developed sense of drama, his exceptional talent for character portrayal, the interplay of opposites, and the depiction of sudden mood shifts. While most of his works are fundamentally in major keys and have a joyful character, this concert features three of his compositions that are dramatic and dark in tone – yet far from depressing. It is no coincidence that all three pieces have become some of the most memorably famous works of his career. Don Giovanni has been called “the opera of operas,” in which Mozart staged a true fireworks display of innovative ideas. Even though he composed the overture on the very day of the premiere, it was met with enormous success. The overture itself captures the opera’s extremities: serious and dramatic, yet mischievous and lighthearted at the same time. The C minor Piano Concerto is one of only two concertos Mozart wrote in a minor key. Its noble, heroic tone later served as a model for Beethoven when composing his own C minor concerto. The G minor Symphony is Mozart’s penultimate symphony and was never performed during his lifetime. It has become perhaps his most famous symphony – recognized even by those who rarely, if ever, listen to classical music. And rightly so: the music is profoundly honest, simultaneously chaotic and full of strength. The Hungarian National Philharmonic Orchestra is one of Hungary’s leading ensembles and has kept these masterpieces in its repertoire for decades. Pianist Mihály Berecz is a standout of the young generation of Hungarian musicians; he is so deeply immersed in the Viennese Classical repertoire that he regularly performs not only on the modern piano but also on the fortepiano. The concert is conducted by György Vashegyi – arguably a close acquaintance of Mozart’s spirit – whose career is centered on researching and performing 18th-century music.

Spend an emotional and passionate evening with Mozart!