Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra presents an all-Mozart program featuring Kristian Bezuidenhout
First Congregational Church
2345 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA
7:30 PM, Sunday, February 7, 2016

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• Mozart: Concerto for Fortepiano No. 23 in A major
• Mozart: Symphony No. 39 in E-flat major
• Mozart: Symphony No. 27 in G major

[7:30 PM tuning; 7:33 PM lights down, announcements]

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791): Symphony No. 27 in G major, K. 199/161b (1773)

1. [7:33 PM] Allegro
2. [7:38 PM] Andantino grazioso
3. [7:43 PM] Presto
   [set ends 7:49 PM]

[7:52 PM tuning and final setup for the fortepiano]

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791): Mozart: Concerto for Fortepiano No. 23 in A major, K.488 (1786)

1. [7:56 PM] Allegro
2. [8:08 PM] Adagio
3. [8:14 PM] Allegro assai and alla breve
   [work ends 8:23 PM]

[8:46 PM lights down]

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791): Mozart: Symphony No. 39 in E-flat major, K.543 (1788)

1. [8:46 PM] Adagio - allegro
2. [8:57 PM] Andante con moto
3. [9:05 PM] Menuetto - Trio
4. [9:09 PM] Allegro
   [set ends 9:15 PM; all wrapped up after a minute or so]

Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra

• Paul Avril: horn;
• Elizabeth Blumenstock: violin;
• Danny Bond: bassoon;
• Phoebe Carrai: cello;
• David Daniel Bowes: viola;
• Lisa Grodin: principal viola;
• Paul Hale: cello;
• Maria Ionia Caswell: viola;
• R.J. Kelley: principal horn;
• Katherine Kyme: concertmaster, violin;
• Tyler Lewis: violin;
• Anthony Martin: principal second violin;
• Nicholas McGegan: conductor, music director;
• Carla Moore: violin;
• Maxine Nemerovski: violin;
• Ellie Nishi: viola;
• Gonzalo X. Ruiz: oboe;
• Marc Schachman: principal oboe;
• Andrew Schwartz: bassoon;
• Sandra Schwartz: violin;
• William Skeen: cello;
• Timothy Spears: contrabass;
• Noah Strick: violin;
• Tanya Tomkins: principal cello;
• Hanneke van Proosdij: harpsichord;
• Jolianne von Einem: violin;
• Lisa Weiss: violin;
• Gabrielle Wunsch: violin;
• Laurie Young Stevens: violin;
• Kristin Zoernig: principal contrabass.

• Kristian Bezuidenhout: fortepiano.

Enjoyed a fine year-closing feast with the in-laws and parents, then had Ting drop me off at FCC just in time for tonight's concert. In a sense, my seat is perfectly good – fifth row center in the balcony – but as with Herbst and Davies, it feels as if the stage is distant, and consequently, the sound is quiet and “tiny.” I suppose I should take this as notice that I really ought to spend more money and sit up close, but that option bothers me too. $100 for a classical gig seems kinda pricey to my stingy soul. Harumph!

Anyways, the opening Mozart symphony was enjoyable, even if I caught myself dozing during the final measures. Must be the heat here in the balcony!

Following a pause to reset the stage and make room for the fortepiano, the set concluded with tonight's featured soloist, Kristian Bezuidenhout, playing Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 23. Although this was intended as tonight's big deal, I found it slightly underwhelming. Not enough volume from the fortepiano, for one, and McGegan seemed to be keeping a lid on the orchestral dynamics to compensate. Probably would have sounded better up in front!

Symphony 39 was quite hummable, in a majestic rum-pom-pom sort or way, what with the constant commentary from the kettle drums and the ever present triplet rhythms in the melody lines. A good way to wrap things up for the night, and much more engaging than the first half pieces. Not sure exactly why that should be so… I guess some works just do better at grabbing your attention!

Steven Winn posted a review of Friday night's PBO show at SFCV.

Back to the previous event! ☸ Up to the 2016 yearbox! ☸ Up to the 2016 event list! ☸ On to the next event!