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The Pacific Chamber Orchestra is preparing to take audiences on a musical journey through the playful, lyrical and innovative spirit of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
The compositions the orchestra is set to play during the “Mozart Rocks 2025” concerts this month are rarely played together and they showcase the breadth of Mozart’s genius, according to a statement from PCO’s music director Lawrence Kohl.
Program highlights will include the “Cosi Fan Tutte” overture followed by soprano Shawnette Sulker singing Despina’s flirty aria, “In Uomini, in Soldati”. Concert-goers can experience the mischievous charm of this aria inspired by the beloved character Despina. “Its spirited rhythms and witty motifs set the perfect tone for an evening of Mozart’s ingenious theatrical flair,” Kohl wrote.
The First Movement of Mozart’s “Flute Concerto” captures the lightness and refined lyricism that have made the concerto a favorite. It will be played by flautist Leslie Chin who has recorded music for numerous video games and movies and can be heard on the Pixar short, “Presto”. She played late Russian composer Igor Stravinsky’s “The Firebird” ballet at Burning Man 2019 and plays in orchestra pits for various shows.
The ”Alleluia” from “Exsultate, jubilate” radiates spiritual fervor and buoyant energy, inviting listeners to celebrate the divine through music.
The Second Movement of Mozart’s “Clarinet Concerto” serves as a testament to Mozart’s ability to infuse his compositions with profound emotion and elegance.
The “Mozart Rocks” concert will also feature “L’Amero, saro costante” from “Il re pastore”, “A Musical Joke” K-522 IV. Finale and Mozart’s vengeful queen finale from “The Magic Flute”.
Lastly, Symphony No. 41 in C Major, K. 551, “Jupiter” is the grand culmination of Mozart’s symphonic writing. It juxtaposes the forceful and the gentle, building to a combination of ideas that feel both logical and surprising at the same time, according to Kohl. This piece showcases Mozart’s ability to layer intricate counterpoint with dynamic contrasts.
PCO is set to present “Mozart Rocks” on two separate occasions this month including next Saturday (April 26) in Lafayette at the Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church at 7:30 p.m. and next Sunday (April 27) at 3 p.m. in Livermore at the Bankhead Theater. Tickets and more information can be found at pacificchamberorchestra.org.
