The Manitowoc Symphony Orchestra performs the always magical music of Mozart at their next concert, “Destination: Mozart,” at the Capitol Civic Centre on Saturday, Nov. 16.
Dylan Chmura-Moore, musical director of the MSO, said that the upcoming program does a fantastic job of showing all that Mozart was–and is. “He is the golden mien…he is the most balanced musician/composer ever. The joy, the beauty, the terrifying, all that stuff that Mozart does, he does easily,” Chmura-Moore said.
Chmura-Moore cites the first offering of the evening, “Overture to The Impresario,” as a prime example. According to Chmura-Moore, it represents and exemplifies all the shenanigans and rabblerousing that goes on backstage at a theatrical production. “It is comical and light-hearted,” he said, noting that it was written as a challenge between Mozart and his arch-rival.
“In the end, he (Mozart) lost the challenge, but he won because we are still playing it,” he said, noting that it was a commentary on bigger things, including social classes.
Chmura-Moore said that this “fantastical, farcical romp” is just one example of Mozart’s genius because bookended in the concert offerings is Symphony No. 41 in C Major, also known as the “Jupiter Symphony” because of the size, immensity, and importance of the work. “Mozart didn’t give it the name,” noted Chmura-Moore, someone else did because he thought it was so “fantastical and said so many things.”
According to Chmura-Moore, the piece incorporates a great deal of “conversations” between instruments. “All the instruments are ‘pitted’ against each other and they all say different things at different times. Mozart puts all these things together and it’s beautiful…it’s sublime,” he said. “No one has ever done it better, and maybe no one has done it better since. It’s a big challenge…Mozart demands a lot of us.”
In between the farcical and sublime is “Violin Concerto No. 5,” featuring Manitowoc’s own Andrew Dunlap. Dunlap, a Manitowoc native, studied violin at the Eastman College and is currently studying at Rice University in Texas. The piece he is featured in is also known as the “Turkish” concerto because it takes its themes from Turkish folk songs.
Chmura-Moore calls the piece “tuneful, beautiful with melodies we all want to sing,” as well as featuring technical brilliance. “It speaks to everyone at every level and interest. Mozart just does it balanced and puts it all together like no one has ever since,” he said, adding that every time he looks and studies the score “it’s jaw dropping.”
Dunlap will make good use of his time here, doing outreach appearances at several different schools in the area prior to his appearance at the Nov. 16 concert.
Of the concert, Chmura-Moore said, “It’s a very well-balanced concert. There is something for everyone for sure. Mozart is just honest, and his music is reflective of that.”
IF YOU GO
WHAT: The Manitowoc Symphony Orchestra presents, “Destination: Mozart,” featuring
Andrew Dunlap on the violin
WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m.
Informance, with Music Educator, Jim Miller takes place in the Mertens Lounge at 6:45 p.m.
WHERE: Capitol Civic Centre, 913 S. Eighth St., Manitowoc
TICKETS: Tickets are available at the box office, online at www.cccshows.org, or by
calling (920) 683-2184
