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The Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert on WRTI: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart In The Spotlight

Wikimedia Commons, Artist Unknown
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

WRTI's Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert broadcast on Sunday, May 2nd at 1 PM on WRTI 90.1 and Monday, May 4th at 7 PM on WRTI HD-2 celebrates Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart—the prodigy, and the master. Join us to hear performances of his first symphony, written at age eight, and his final one, the 41st, composed a quarter century later.

Before intermission of this all-Mozart concert performed at Verizon Hall in January 2017, Philadelphia Orchestra Principal Bassoon Daniel Matsukawa is soloist in Mozart’s Bassoon Concerto, offering plenty of opportunities for the bassoonist to shine, including a beautifully operatic slow movement. Guest conductor for this concert is the eminent Mozartean Jane Glover.

Credit Jessica Griffin
Principal bassoon Daniel Matsukawa

Since his earliest years, Mozart was recognized as one of the most extraordinary prodigies in the history of Western music, and toured extensively as a child. It was during an extended stay in London, in fact, that the boy—not yet 10 years old—underwent a series of scientific tests at the Royal Society to confirm that he wasn’t a fraud.

And it was at this very time that Mozart composed his First Symphony. Nearly 25 years later, in only six weeks during the summer of 1788, he composed his final three symphonies, works that mark the summit of his symphonic achievement.

The final Symphony No. 41 in C major, known as the “Jupiter,” a name applied after the composer’s death, reveals Mozart at his most technically brilliant. The final movement of the “Jupiter” is a compositional tour-de-force of counterpoint rivaling J.S. Bach.

Furthermore, Mozart’s symphonies had come full circle: he had used the principal theme of the "Jupiter" finale in the second movement of the First Symphony, 25 years before!

POICinterviewGloer022617.mp3
Conductor Jane Glover speaks with WRTI's Debra Lew Harder.

During intermission, WRTI’s Susan Lewis speaks with Dan Matsukawa, and Debra Lew Harder goes backstage with Jane Glover.

Detailed program notes from the concert

PROGRAM:?
Mozart: Symphony No. 1
Mozart: Bassoon Concerto?
     Daniel Matsukawa, bassoon

INTERMISSION?

Mozart: Symphony No. 41?
     Jane Glover, conductor

Listen to The Philadelphia Orchestra in Concert broadcasts every Sunday at 1 pm on WRTI 90.1 FM, online at WRTI.org, and on our mobile app!Listen again every Monday at 7 PM on WRTI HD-2. Gregg Whiteside is host.

Gregg was the host of WRTI's morning drive show from 2012 until his retirement from WRTI in January, 2021. He began producing and hosting The Philadelphia Orchestra In Concert broadcasts in 2013, joining the Orchestra in Hong Kong for the first-ever live international radio broadcasts from that island in 2016, and in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem for two historic broadcasts in 2018. You can still hear Gregg as host of the Orchestra broadcasts every Sunday and Monday on WRTI.