Concert Critique of Mozart and The Height of Classicism
On Sunday, December 07, 2003, I attended the Mozart and The Height of Classicism concert that was held in the Lincoln Theater of the New World Symphony orchestral academy. Conducted by Nicholas McGegan featuring pianist Robert Levin. There were two pieces of music during this concert, one of the movements was performed by the pianist alone as a solo, Mr. Robert Levin. The program’s title was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Chaconne from Idomeneo. The first piece was Concerto No. 24 in C minor for Piano and Orchestra, K. 491, Allegro, Larghetto, and Allegretto. The second piece was Symphony No. 36 in C major, K.425, “Linz”, Adagio-Allegro spiritoso, Andante, Menuetto-Trio, and Presto. This concert was unique in that the focus seemed to be as much on the instruments as in the music itself. As the pianist and conductor expressed the form of improvisation as Mozart did, which I will explain further on my critique.
The concert began promptly at 3pm, when the conductor Nicholas McGegan entered the stage with the full theater clapping, along all the members of the orchestra. All the men and women in the orchestra including the conductor were wearing all black suits. Prior to his entrance I noticed that the orchestra began to play, it was obvious that the concert had not begun, so I realized that they were just toning their instruments. This also, happened when we returned from intermission. Being my first time to an orchestra I first thought that they were playing around with the instruments.
The Allegro part was very good. I found my self enjoying the most the beginnings and endings of the movements. It also sounded very happy, and bright. This one and Larghetto I enjoyed fully since it was the beginning of the concert. This was my first time attending an orchestral concert. I noticed how beautiful the music sounded and I began to appreciate it a lot more. I can admit that how great and enjoyable was, that I was in a bit of a shock. This was nothing compared to listening to a compact disc. I can say that my favorite instrument was the violin. The play it was played, and how beautifully it sounded, it was like nothing I’ve hear before. In this orchestra I noticed that most violinist were mostly women. I think that this was because women have more sensitivity, which seemed necessary to play the i...
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...rs where the violins, viola, cello, flutes, bassoon, French horns and timpani played a bigger role. I’m not saying that this piano concerto was horrible but I just didn’t enjoy as much the piano’s performance in those two movements. It might have been the pianist interpretation, and exercise of improvisation. These two movements were the last performance of the pianist and once the second movement ended the piano was removed from the orchestra. Mr. Robert Levin received his applause once he finished and when he walked back from the curtains. Over all I did love the concert because it was the same style of classicism. The last two movements Menuetto-Trio and Presto were conducted by Nicholas McGegan. My favorite was definitely the last one, because it was so exciting, energetic and fast paced. The timpani as well as all the other instruments sounded great. The timpani in this movement played louder and more frequently that all the other movements, including the previous piece. There was only one percussionist and he played two timpani. So finally, I’ll end by saying again that the concert was great, and very well performed. I look forward to attending the New World Symphony again.
The concert that I attended last Friday was an interesting one where I got to have some new experiences and learn about classical music.
One of the pieces the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra performed was Carnival Overture, op. 92, composed by Antonin Dvorak. The conductor at this concert was Christian Baldini and the main violinist was Shawyon Malek-Salehi. This piece was made in the Romantic era with an orchestra instrumentation. The genre for this piece is concert overture and has a sonata form in a similar formate to other sonata forms from the Romantic era, making it sound dramatic compared to the Classical era’s sonata era. The live performance was true to Dvorak’s original score, which took the traditional sonata form of the classical era and changed it to incorporate a common Romantic era sonata form. Although the live performance focused on the first violinist, it still maintained the dramatic atmosphere from the original piece by keeping the sonata form, rhythm, texture, and instrumentation.
I thoroughly enjoyed this concert from beginning to end. The opening piece, “String Quartet in F Major, K 590”, was both soothing and moving with an engaging theme that followed through the piece. The sudden stops and starts with changes in theme built the suspense and pulled the listener in to a jaunty gallop through the second section. Also the bass tones in the back ground seem to be slightly off kilter with the violins, providing a complex texture and harmony that provides depth and poignancy to the music.
...ers and the audience. The dramatic nature of this piece alone is something to be reckoned with as it is extremely passionate. The symphony is presented in 4 movements as is common and begins with a Poco Sostenuto- Vivace, followed by a Allegretto movement, Presto movement, and finally ends on an Allegro con brio movement. the central theme of this piece is introduced in the first movement by a flute playing in tripple meter continuously ascending up the scales rising in dynamic contrast, continuing to grow into a louder and more stark contrast between it’s highs and lows. Consistently dance like, the piece is celebratory of its roots buried in historical Austrian music that has been present in the culture for years. The accomplishments of the soldiers for which the piece was composed for are easily told of simply by the energy and power present throughout the piece.
While the harmonies throughout the concerto seem simplistic enough to be, within reason, of a classical caliber and each movement sound accordingly traditional to the average listener, the concerto itself presents an idea more musically complex
Morning, Noon, and Night in Vienna, was very upbeat and humorous, it had the crowds attention. It started with the percussion then the brass, Oh man! it sounded like a band, with its sonata allegro fast and lively pace. Then the strings came and the whole orchestra was playing, the notes just flowed. Some would say the percussions and brass overpowered the strings, but this piece was different. The strings were loud enough to be heard. By looking at the string performer's face expressions, they were really feeling the piece, and were not stringing hard trying to compete with the
...xcited to have this experience. Part of the drama of the concert at first is felt when the musicians come in and sit down and begin tuning up their instruments. I would not be able to comment on the performance of the orchestra. During the performance, I seen the audience were moving with the music, but I felt like that everyone seems knows more music than what I learned throughout this semester. After I went home and did some of the research on these music I finally understand why these people like to attend the orchestra concerto, it was because that every piece of music has a history behind it. The Los Angeles audience seemed to me to be people who know music and who will listen to something new in a respectful way. All the same, when the more familiar sounds of the last piece were heard, I could feel a little sense of relaxation and fun coming into the room.
On August 2, 2015 I attended Barge music Concerts where I had the chance to familiarize myself with masterworks series of two amazing composers. Antonio Vivaldi and his concerto for 4 violins and orchestra in B minor, RV 580 that were performed in three movements allegro, largo – larghetto and allegro. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his concerto for Violin and Orchestra No. 3 in G Major, K. 216, that were preform in allegro, adagio, rondeau (allegro). And sinfonia concertante for violin, viola and orchestra in E-flat major, K. 364 also composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and it was also performed in three movement allegro maestoso, andante, presto.This masterpieces were perform by Alexander Mishnaevski who played the viola, Mark Peskanov, Gregory Durozel, Kyungha Ko were playing on a violin and Gregory Singer who was a conductor and who also played a violin. What I loved the most about this concert is that each piece of music was field with emotions and was very uplifting. Also in a small space like a barge it was very easy to see witch instrum...
The music of course was the main focus and for me I really enjoyed The fountains of Rome. This piece was near the end but I found myself to really enjoy The Fountains of the valle Giulia at Dawn which opened up with an oboe, and sounded like I was right near a fountain in the morning. Birds were chirping as the day started with a beautiful peaking of the sun beginning. The Triton Fountain in the Morning had an interesting beginning that started off with a high pitch. At first the horn frightened me but it set the tone with the violins mixed with some sort of symbol as if we were jumping right into the morning. It contained so much excitement in it, like a bursting ray of emotion. However, I did dislike one piece due to it contrasting too much to my favorite piece of the symphony. From The Pines of the Villa Borghese it came at me like a sudden rush, it abruptly ruined the subtle calm feeling I was experiencing too quickly and made it feel like I had an orchestra chasing after me. My favorite piece from the symphony was The Fountain of Rome was La fontana di villa Medici al tramonto. This one particularly caught my interest because it felt like it tied everything together by stringing emotion along. The entire songs presence was calming and subtle as everything was slowed down with a softer dynamic. What really drew me in was
The second piece, Paratum Cor Meum, was a much shorter piece with very few lyrics. It was interesting to hear a piece by Haydn, since we had discussed this composer in class. I was impressed by the choir members’ ability to remember words in another language, and I enjoyed the sounds of the piano accompaniment.
The first song the piano trio performed was the Haydn C Major Trio. This piece is from the Classical period of music. The Baroque period is known for many of the smaller setting pieces that were written in that time period, so piano trios were quite popular at this time. The piece consisted of three movements in fast, slow, fast order. The piano and violin were featured in this movement and you could tell that their parts were pretty difficult. The first part of this piece was in sonata form, the second was in ABA ternary form, and the third was another part in sonata form. The piece changed tempo throughout it which really felt like it kept people involved. You could also hear the repeat of the intro and certain themes throughout the piece. This piece was very enjoyable. It was probably my favorite piece played in this concert. The changing if tempos really made you pay more attention and it wasn't slow or boring. The sonata forms allowed the musicians to perform more difficult parts from the pieces and it was very entertaining to observe. This piece also ...
The Genius of Mozart documentary it starts with Mozart’s father, Leopold Mozart, which Wolfgang Mozart had got his passion of music from. They were close with one another and developed a close bond that connected with no only Father and Son but as well as music. His father was not only his father; he was a teacher to Mozart. Mozart’s father said he was a light that was contributed to others, and that he would not belong to just one class. As Wolfgang Mozart grew up, he had to deal with an illness called arthritis. Leopold was close to his son and he knew everything about Mozart from top to bottom. Even things that we still to this day do not know about Mozart. Mozart uses music to express his emotions like many other composers do as well. Mozart
Personal. An insightful analysis and understanding of a piece of music could lead me to play it with the emotions that the composer wants to express. As I may do a grade 10 RCM examination in two years, I chose to analyse this piece from the syllabus because it is among the best violin concertos and the most representative work of its composer. Also, as a member of the Westmount Youth Orchestra, I have played the tutti part of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E minor, Opus 64 and I find it very beautiful. As these two concertos are so much related (same country and same musical period), Bruch’s Violin Concerto No.1 arouses my curiosity.
...re was very interesting transitions between the variation, for example, string section plays the variation from low to high, when they reach the highest note, the brass family takes over and continue with the scale and make it more higher. Tremolo style was used in this piece, which is a quick ups and downs stroke mode. The music were very soothing and attracted the audience. Lastly, they end the piece with the same variations that was played at the beginning.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born on January 27, 1756, in Salzburg, Germany. Born to Leopold Mozart, a violinist and a minor composer, learning music was a must for Amadeus. He was the youngest of seven children, even though most of his brothers and sisters died in early childhood. His eldest sister, Maria “Nannerl” Anna, began keyboard lessons at the age of seven with her father, while three-year-old Amadeus watched and listened. This acted as the first footstep for young Mozart’s long musical journey.