Shanghai Daily news

As Salzburg’s most famous son, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has been so associated with the Austrian city that many people believe its architecture and the richness of its history were major inspirations in his creation of some of the greatest compositions in the annals of music.
The Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg, the symphony orchestra of the City and Province of Salzburg, will trace the relationship of the composer and his birthplace in two concerts which are part of the ongoing Sixth Shanghai International Arts Festival.
The orchestra was founded in 1841, on the 50th anniversary of Mozart’s death, with the help of the late composer’s widow Constanze and his sons Franz and Karl. The orchestra once performed only Mozart’s symphonies and operas until in 1939 it broke its link with the Mozart Music Foundation and began to tour outside Salzburg. It expanded its Viennese repertoire by including works by some of Mozart’s famous contemporaries, such as Franz Joseph Hayden.
“But wherever we go, people still first recognize us as an ensemble from Mozart’s hometown and expect us to present his complex and emotional works which mark his classical period,”says the orchestra’s principal conductor, Hubert Soudant. Soudant will be succeeded by Ivor Bolton in late autumn, so the Shanghai concert will become one of his last appearances with the orchestra as its chief conductor.
The concert will kick off with Mozart’s works—Overture to“The Marriage of Figaro,”followed by“Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor”and“Symphony No. 36 in C Major (Linz).”The orchestra will also play Mozart’s last symphonic work,“Symphony No. 41 in C Major (Jupiter).”
This salute-to-Mozart concert series is part of the arts festival’s Austrian Week that features four more concerts presented by top-level ensembles and soloists from Vienna.
Highlights include two chamber concerts. The first is by the Vienna Trio consisting of pianist Nelly Banova, violinist Johannes Kostner and cellist Csaba Bornemisza, all of whom are members of the Vienna Philharmonic. The trio’s first concert in Vienna was a great success and they decided to continue to play together and began touring. Banova and Kostner also perform sonatas as a duo. The program for their Shanghai concert includes Mozart’s“Allegro”and Schubert’s“Andante con moto.”Also appearing during Austrian Week is the Vienna String Ensemble, founded by 11 members of the Vienna Philharmonic in 1974.
Renowned for its velvet-like string tone, the ensemble has worked with outstanding musicians such as cellist Mischa Maisky and pianist Rudolf Buchbinder. Shanghai music lovers who missed the Vienna Philharmonic’s visit last February will have the chance to make up for their loss. Local pianist Kong Xiangdong will join the ensemble in Mendelssohn’s“Concerto for Violin, Piano and Strings in D Minor.”
“The series of concerts for Austrian Week was originally a celebration for the reopening of the Shanghai Concert Hall,”says Jia Xiaoyi from the Shanghai International Cultural Association, the organizer for the concerts.“Later, when the arts festival heard of the concerts, we were asked if we could invite more ensembles and make it into a series for the festival. Both the Austrian musicians and we felt excited about the idea as chamber music is a rare event in Shanghai and we hope it will add some sparkle to the festival.”

Vienna String Ensemble
Date: October 24, 7:15pm
Tickets: 80-300 yuan

Johann Strauss Ensemble
Date: October 26-27, 7:15pm
Tickets: 80-300 yuan

Concert by Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg
Date: November 1-2, 7:15pm
Tickets: 100-680 yuan
Venue: Shanghai Concert Hall, 523 Yan’an Rd E.
Tel: 6272-0455, 6272-0702

Vienna Trio
Date: October 25, 7:15pm
Venue: He Luting Concert Hall,Shanghai Conservatory of Music, 20 Fenyang Rd
Tickets: 80-380 yuan
Tel: 6272-0455, 6272-0702