MSO to perform Mozart and Mendelssohns

CLASSICAL music devotees will be happy to discover that yet another top-class ensemble has been booked to perform at Ulumbarra Theatre; this time around the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) on July 5.

Led by MSO chief conductor Jaime Martín, the program will begin with Fanny Mendelssohn’s Overture and conclude with her brother Felix’s Fourth Symphony.

In between, principal players from the MSO wind section (Johannes Grosso oboe, David Thomas clarinet, Jack Schiller bassoon and Nicolas Fleury horn) will step into the spotlight for Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante, each having the chance to showcase their instrument in an interplay with the orchestra.

Bassoonist Schiller said the Sinfonia Concertante in which he’ll be featuring is enjoyable to play as the spotlight is shared between the soloists.

“There’s lots of interplay and contrast, which brings out the colors in the music,” he said.

“We work as a team, bouncing off each other and the orchestra. It’s quite light, elegant music – very Mozart, lots of virtuosic moments, beautiful phrasing.

“The slow movement is especially lyrical and expressive (and) the last movement is a set of variations, so each soloist gets their own moment to shine. It’s playful and cheeky – really fun to perform.” Schiller talked up the rest of the program as well.

“There’s (Felix) Mendelssohn’s Fourth Symphony, which I’m not playing in, but it’s a brilliant piece, and then we’re also playing a piece by Fanny Mendelssohn, (his) sister,” he said.

“Her work is fantastic but not performed often, so it’s exciting to bring that to the stage.”

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Presents Mozart and the Mendelssohns takes place at Ulumbarra Theatre on July 5.

Tickets are available via Gotix.