School of Music throws a party for Mozart’s birthday

From a child prodigy to composer of some of the world’s most beloved symphonies, chamber music, opera, choral works and more, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s life was written in codas and stanzas.

To commemorate his 250th birthday on Jan. 27, faculty and students in the UW–Madison School of Music have planned two celebratory concerts in honor of the day and its owner.

On Thursday, Jan. 26, four faculty ensembles will present as part of the faculty chamber music series the Mozart Flute Quartet in D major, K. 285; Quartet in E-flat major for Piano and Strings, K. 493; Trio for Clarinet, Viola and Piano, “Kegelstatt,” K. 498 and “Parto! Ma tu ben mio” from “La Clemenza di Tito.”

On Sunday, Jan. 29, 19 UW–Madison School of Music piano students will present a “marathon,” all 18 Mozart sonatas (plus one fantasia).

Catherine Kautsky, professor of music and chair of keyboard, was a “key” player in organizing both concerts. She says that the participating students clearly are acquiring a much deeper understanding of music in general, and of Mozart in particular.

“They’ve been struck with the amazing control required to play Mozart well,” she says. “They can’t get away with anything because every note and every sound matters so very, very much. There’s an old saying that Mozart is too easy for children and too hard for adults – I think the students started out as children and are ending up as adults in terms of the music!”

And the audience? Kautsky promises that listeners too will come away with their appreciation of Mozart enhanced and refined.

“There’s an enormous power in hearing so much Mozart at once,” Kautsky says. “The melodic inventiveness of this man is truly infinite. And the mood range! All the way from the most ecstatic exuberance to despair and tragedy. Even his smaller piano sonatas, the ones that are lesser known, almost invariably have at least one movement that struck me as absolutely remarkable – I think it’s his ability to use so few notes to express so much.

“Hours of Mozart mean getting deeply acquainted with a genius,” she adds.

The Jan. 26 faculty concert begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Mosse Humanities Building’s Mills Concert Hall. Tickets are $9 general/$7 seniors or non-UW-Madison students. UW–Madison students are free with ID. The Jan. 29 marathon, which will begin at 1 p.m. in Morphy Hall of the Mosse Humanities Building, is free and open to all. Kautsky says people are welcome to drop in and out, as time permits. The festivities, sponsored by the community-based UW–Madison Piano Partners, will feature cake provided by Sophia’s Bakery. Performers and audience also will have a chance to chat during two intermissions and after the concert.

For more information on either concert, call (608) 263-9485 or email music@music.wisc.edu.