“I am very concerned about the future of the symphony orchestra.” These are the words of the National Symphony Orchestra’s Principal Conductor, Iwan Fischer, on tour in Asia these days. He goes on to declare that orchestras are too inflexible, the instrumentation having not fundamentally changed for 120 years. Is there a solution to this humdrum? Read about it here…

To celebrate Stravinsky’s birthday two days ago, Google decided to incorporate his Firebird in the day’s logo. Not everybody was convinced and Michael Munroe of MMmusing even decided to try his hand at a new version of a Stravinsky Google logo. To compare attempts, it’s here…

To listen to Stravinsky’s Suite Italienne (as performed by cellist Yegor Dyachkov and pianist Jean Saulnier), follow this link instead…

Mozart to Aloysia Weber, July 30th 1778

“In the aria “Non so d’onde viene”, which you prepared on your own, I found nothing to change or correct. You performed it with the same taste, artistry and expression as I had imagined it- therefore I have every reason to have full confidence in your artistry and instincts- basta- you are a genius…a great genius. I only recommend – and this is an urgent request – that you read my letters several times, and to do as I have advised, to be certain and convinced that, in all that I say or have said to you, I have never had any other intention than to give you my absolute best.  Dearest friend… my soul is not at peace, and it never shall be, until I have the comfort of knowing for certain that the justice that you deserve has been done to you. I shall, however, be truly happy only on that day, when I have the great delight of seeing you again and embracing you with all my heart, which I allow myself to both hope and desire.”

Mozart’s published dedication page of his Quartets dedicated to Haydn (Sept. 1, 1785)

To my dear friend Haydn,

A father who had resolved to send his children out into the great world took it to be his duty to confide them to the protection and guidance of a very celebrated Man, especially when the latter by good fortune was at the same time his best Friend. Here they are then, O great Man and dearest Friend, these six children of mine. They are, it is true, the fruit of a long and laborious endevour, yet the hope inspired in my by several Friends that it may be at least partly compensated encourages me, and I flatter myself that this offspring will serve to afford me solace one day. You, yourself, dearest friend, told me of your satisfaction with them during your last Visit to this Capital. It is this indulgence above all which urges me to commend them to you and encourages me to hope that they will not seem to you altogether unworthy of your favour. May it therefore please you to receive them kindly and to be their Father, Guide and Friend! From this moment I resign to you all my rights in them, begging you however to look indulgently upon the defects which the partiality of a Father’s eye may have concealed from me, and in spite of them to continue in your generous Friendship for him who so greatly values it, in expectation of which I am, with all of my Heart, my dearest Friend, your most Sincere Friend,

W. A. Mozart

Mozart to Konstanze, July 7th 1791

I can’t explain my feelings, there’s a certain emptiness- that hurts – a kind of longing that will never be satisfied and, so, never stops – growing from day to day – when I think of the childish fun we had together in Baden – and what sad, boring hours I spend here – my work brings me no joy, since I got used to taking breaks from time to time to talk to you, this pleasure is now an impossibility – if I go to the piano and sing something from the opera, I have to stop immediately – I’m overcome with emotion – Basta!

To listen to Mozart’s Haydn’s Quartets (Alcan Quartet)…
To listen to Operas for two (with Angèle Dubeau and Alain Marion)…

In his more than 1200 letters, Mozart saw the necessity to relate to others all that he saw and heard, and felt and thought. In his letters to his father when travelling, for once, he tells of the progress of the fine arts, especially in the theatres and in music. In others, we see the impulses of his own heart. These letters are manifestly the unconstrained, natural, and simple outpourings of his heart, delightfully recalling to our minds all the sweetness and pathos, the spirit and grace, which have a thousand times enchanted us in
the music of Mozart.

To his father, October 2, 1777 (Munich)

On the three days that I was at Count Salern’s I played a great many things extempore–two Cassations
[Divertimentos] for the Countess, and the finale and Rondo, and the latter by heart. You cannot imagine the delight this causes Count Salern. He understands music, for he was constantly saying Bravo! while other gentlemen were taking snuff, humming and hawing, and clearing their throats, or holding forth. I said to
him, “How I do wish the Elector were only here, that he might hear me play! He knows nothing of me-he does not know what I can do. How sad it is that these great gentlemen should believe what any one tells them, and do not choose to judge for themselves! But it is always so. Let him put me to the test. He may assemble all the composers in Munich, and also send in quest of some from Italy and France, Germany, and England and Spain, and I will undertake to write against them all.” I related to him all that had occurred to me in Italy, and begged him, if the conversation turned on me, to bring in these things. He said, “I have very
little influence, but the little that is in my power I will do with pleasure.”(…)

Baron Rumling lately paid me the following compliment: “The theatre is my delight-good actors and actresses, good singers, and a clever composer, such as yourself.” This is indeed only talk, and words are not of much value, but he never before spoke to me in this way. (…)

I beg you will excuse my horrid writing, but ink, haste, sleep, and dreams are all against me. I am now and forever amen, your dutiful son,

A. W. MOZART.

Mozart to his father, April 4th 1787

It’s most unpleasant for me that, because of Mlle. Storace’s stupidity, my letter has not come into your hands…I’ve just heard some news that I find most unsettling – now even more since I gathered from your last letter that you were, thank God, in very good health. But now I hear that you have taken ill?  I certainly don’t need to tell you how much I long for comforting news from you; and I do hope it comes – although I have made it a habit to always expect the worst.

To put it bluntly; since death is truly the ultimate goal of all our lives, I have gotten acquainted with this real best friend of mankind in the last few years to a point where His image is no longer frightening to me, but rather tranquil and comforting. I thank my God that he has granted me the good fortune and the opportunity (you understand me) to get to know it (death) as the KEY to our true happiness. I never go to bed without contemplating that I may (as young as I am) not witness the next day – and there’s not one person from all the ones who know me that would say that I am morose or sad – and for this enlightenment I thank my Creator daily and wish it for every other soul. In the letter Storace took with her, I had already referred to this…and explained my point of view…I hope that, while I write this, you are feeling better. But should you, against all expectation, be no better, I pray you won’t conceal it from me, but rather write me or have someone else write me the unvarnished truth.  So that I may fly as fast as humanly possible to your arms; I entreat you, by all that we both – hold sacred. Yet I hope soon to get a reassuring letter from you; and, in this happy expectation,

I with my wife and Carl, kiss your hands a thousand times, and remain ever
your most obedient son,

W.A. Mozart

To listen:
PianoTrios (Gryphon Trio)

Symphonies Nos. 40 and 41(Tafelmusik, Bruno Weil)

In a career spanning over 40 years, Louis Quilico was mostly renowned for the exceptional quality of his live performances and his interpretations of the Verdi repertoire. He has earned the title of Mr. Rigoletto after singing this role over 500 times. “I was graced by being in my comfort zone in the Verdi repertoire,” he explained matter-of-factly.

You can hear him once again here, with his wife pianist Christina Petrowska. A rare treat!