Concertgebouw Orchestra and Klaus Mäkelä: Mozart and Tchaikovsky

About the Event

In a harmonious blend of warm musical tributes, the Concertgebouw Orchestra and Klaus Mäkelä connect Mozart’s Symphony No. 39 with pieces by Tchaikovsky and Arensky. Additionally, cellist Sol Gabetta takes the spotlight in Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme.

Klaus Mäkelä & Sol Gabetta
The orchestra’s chief conductor designate, Klaus Mäkelä, leads a program filled with musical tributes. Tchaikovsky once admitted in a letter, 'It is thanks to Mozart that I have devoted myself to music.' His admiration for this 'radiant genius' is evident in his Variations on a Rococo Theme for cello and orchestra. Sol Gabetta dazzles in this sublime piece. For Anton Arensky, who died too young, Tchaikovsky was a significant influence, as shown in Arensky’s Variations on a Theme of Tchaikovsky.

Mozart Symphony No. 39
With an emotional range that was extraordinary for its time, Mozart’s final three symphonies represent the peak of his symphonic work. Symphony No. 39 stands out for several reasons, including Mozart’s decision to exclude oboes from the woodwind section, highlighting his beloved clarinet. In the clever final movement, the composer nods to ‘Papa’ Haydn while seemingly foreshadowing the Romantic era.