Magnificent Mozart

The Willoughby Symphony is having an all-Mozart programme today, presumably in celebration of W.A. Mozart's 250th birth anniversary. Not all works are by Mozart, but they are somewhat related to him:

• Symphony No. 15 in G Major, K. 124

1. Allegro
2. Andante
3. Menuetto and Trio
4. Presto

• Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major, K. 219

1. Allegro Aperto - Adagio - Allegro Aperto
2. Adagio
3. Rondo - Tempo di Minuetto

• Schnittke's Moz-Art a la Haydn
• Haydn's Symphony No. 45 in F Sharp Minor ("Farewell")

1. Allegro assai
2. Adagio
3. Menuet: Allegretto
4. Finale: Presto
5. Adagio

Suyeon Kang, 2005 Australian Young Performer of the Year, joins the Willoughby Symphony as solo violinist with 2002 Australian Young Conductor of the Year Ollivier-Phillippe Cuneo conducting. I liked the violin concerto, but Schnittke's piece is way too avant-garde for me. The instruments were (intentionally) being played out of synch and out of tune, the music actually bothered me. By then, I was not in the mood to appreciate the Farewell Symphony anymore.