‘Mozart and Mahler’ is tonight’s Masterworks concert
Chattanooga Symphony & Opera Music Director Kayoko Dan was inspired by more than a catchy alliterative title when she paired works by composers Mozart and Mahler together for the symphony’s concert tonight, April 6.
“I wanted to feature our soprano, Maria Valdes, on two pieces on the program. The two pieces Maria is singing are ‘heavenly’ in nature, which connects them. Also, the Mahler symphony is an homage to classical symphonies written by Mozart and Haydn,” says Dan.
So the CSO will open tonight’s concert in the Tivoli Theatre with Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” overture, followed by Mozart’s “Exsultate Jubilate,” featuring Atlanta soprano Valdes.
According to legend, the “Don Giovanni” overture was completed just hours before its premiere, so the piece had to be
sight-read by musicians, but still received accolades from the audience.
After Valdes joins the CSO for “Exsultate Jubilate,” the concert will close with Mahler’s 4th Symphony, considered his most
accessible with a smaller orchestra and shorter performance time compared to his other symphonies. The work opens with flutes and sleigh bells, and concludes with text sung by a soprano, in this case Valdes.
Valdes was an Adler Fellow with the San Francisco Opera, made her debut at the Lyric Opera of Chicago as Juliette in “Romeo et Juliette” and made her New York recital debut with the New York Festival of Song.
During the remainder of this concert season, Valdes will perform at St. Thomas Church in New York City and in a presentation of Handel’s “Messiah” at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Atlanta.
Prior to tonight’s concert, audience members are invited to join Douglas Hedwig at 6:45 p.m. for a spotlight talk about the pieces to be performed and their composers. The talk will be held in the Tivoli Theatre’s dance studio.
After the concert, conductor Dan, Valdes and select musicians will greet concertgoers in the theater’s lobby for Postlude at 9:30 p.m. These events are free to concert ticketholders.