The star of the first part is the well-known songbird with its versatile vocal cords: the talent of starlings for imitating sounds and even pieces of music has even found its way into music history. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart kept a starling as a pet for three years. Soon, the docile bird was able to whistle the rondo theme of Piano Concerto No. 17 in G major. For three years, the bird Stahrl chirped throughout the Mozart family’s apartment. When he died, Mozart wrote a heartfelt poem for him and gave him a solemn burial: »Here lies a dear fool/ A bird Staar/ Still in his prime/ He had to experience/ The bitter pain of death.«
In addition to Piano Concerto No. 17 with the outstanding artist Andreas Staier, one of the world’s leading harpsichordists and fortepiano players, the Mozartfest Ensemble will perform the world premiere of Alex Schöppl’s work »m:re« for band and orchestra and a participatory version of Jean-Philippe Rameau’s La Poule in the first part.
In the second part, Wolfgang Amadeus takes us into his world of love. Just like our relationship with nature, love sometimes brings us to the brink of despair, but it also lifts us up, lets us dream, and gives everything meaning. Mozart’s operas have been thoroughly mixed up, so Papageno now pines for Donna Anna, Gugliermo becomes jealous of Konstanze, and Giunia sings an aria of death wish, but in the end, everyone manages to love each other. A semi-staged fantasy opera about the facets of love with arias and duets from »Così fan tutte«, »Le nozze di Figaro«, »Idomeneo«, »Lucio Silla«, »Don Giovanni« und »The Magic Flute« (Zauberflöte) combined with orchestral works from Mozart’s stage music and symphonies. In addition to original works, the ensemble plays its own interpretations and arrangements of famous Mozart works with a band. Together with Dutch architect Wouter Hilhorst, the Mozart Nature Fest team is developing the stage design and dramaturgy for the evening.
Around the venues, experts from Nabu will introduce us to the world of starlings and other city birds through urban bird watching. Unfortunately, many species are losing their habitat and their populations are declining. That’s why we’ll be building starling and bat boxes together before and after the concert.
PERFORMERS
Mozart Fest Ensemble ensemble
Carly Power soprano
Sunu Seungwoo Sun baritone
Andreas Staier piano
Alex Schöppl piano, vocals
Frank Meiller saxophone
Patrick Hänsler guitar, bass guitar
Alexander Hinz drums
David Dieterle director
PROGRAM
Alex Schöppl
m:re
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in G major, KV 453
Jean-Philippe Rameau
La Poule
- Interval -
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Overture from »Così fan tutte«, K. 588
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Voi che sapete che cosa è amor (Sagt, holde Frauen)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Chaconne
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Madamina, il catalogo è questo / Schöne Donna »Registerarie«
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Marcia
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Fra i pensier piu funesti di morte
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Allegro
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Deh, vieni alla finestra / Komm, geh ans Fenster
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Pa, pa, pa, pa ...
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Allegro
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Là ci darem la mano (Reich mir die Hand, mein Leben)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Ruhe sanft, mein holdes Leben
