MAINLY MOZART DELIGHTS DEL MAR WITH A LIVE CONCERT
The coronavirus lockdown has taken a heavy toll on the performing arts. Audiences cannot safely congregate indoors, nor can musicians, dancers or actors gather onstage in any large group.
The San Diego Symphony, San Diego Opera, La Jolla Music Society and countless other organizations, big and small, have been dark since March.
For the past 30 years, the Mainly Mozart Festival’s crown jewel, its monthlong summer festival, has brought musicians together from across the world to convene in San Diego to gloriously make music. This year, the events that were scheduled for June have been postponed to 2021.
On Saturday afternoon, though, Mainly Mozart gave concert-starved San Diegans a free gift: a happy performance of octets by Mozart and Mendelssohn.
Instead of the visual charm and fine acoustics of the Balboa Theatre — the festival’s most recent home — a dirt parking lot at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club was the venue.
As the horses at the nearby track raced to empty seats, 70 cars were guided into socially distanced spaces before a small but high stage flanked by elevated speakers.
We were instructed to remain in our vehicles during the event. We could listen to the performance through open windows (in some cases, lowered convertible tops) or tune to an AM frequency on our radios. I opted for the stage speaker experience.
Before the music commenced, Los Angeles Philharmonic concertmaster Martin Chalifour — who has performed for every Mainly Mozart Festival since 1989 — told the audience that he hadn’t played a concert in nearly six months. He introduced his L.A. Philharmonic colleagues: violinists Bing Wang and Lyndon Johnston, violists Michael Larco and Leticia Strong, and cellists Barry Gold and Jason Lippmann, all of them wearing masks.
After a few more remarks by San Diego Symphony concertmaster Jeff Thayer, the program began with Mozart’s “Divertimento in D Major, K. 136.” Written for two violin, viola and cello parts, it is frequently performed by string orchestras, although it works equally well as a string quartet. The musicians doubled up on each part, a more difficult interpretive task requiring precise intonation. As Mainly Mozart veterans might expect, these challenges were easily overcome.
Yes, there were minor setbacks in the amplification: occasional feedback, wind flutter on the mikes, and the occasional flapping of pages magnified. But after three or more months of no local classical concerts, to hear eight musicians happily collaborating and communing was a joy that transcended any small sound equipment difficulties.
Mozart was 16 years old when he composed this three-movement work. It’s a confident, genial piece that provides glimpses of great music to come, but it’s clear that the talented teen was still discovering who he was.
No such qualifications need to be made about Mendelssohn’s Octet in E-flat Major, Op. 20, one of the greatest works ever penned by a 16-year-old. Its triumphantly sunny disposition, appealing melodies and formal surprises would be a proud accomplishment for a composer of any age. The musicians played flawlessly and gave it an exciting rendition.
When the final notes sounded, the audience signaled its happy approval with a vigorous round of horn honking.
Circumstances willing, Mainly Mozart will continue these drive-in performances, with the next event scheduled for July 25 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds at 3 and 6 p.m.
Hertzog is a freelance writer.