“Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra looks to explore classical composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s range with its latest concert,” writes Jessi Virtusio in Friday’s (4/20) Daily Southtown (Chicago suburbs, IL). “Conducted by music director Stilian Kirov, ‘From Wit to Wonder: A Mozart Celebration’ on April 27 … includes ‘The Marriage of Figaro’ overture and Symphony No. 41 aka ‘Jupiter.’ ” Also on the program will be Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5, with soloist Robert Chen, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s concertmaster. “ ‘Obviously his music inspires so much. He was such a genius,’ said Chen.… ‘There’s a language in Mozart’s music that is very universal. It’s speaks to so many facets of human emotion and just the human condition,’ … Chen said…. ‘Mozart wrote the five violin concertos … basically as a vehicle for himself to perform. It’s well-known that his father was very keen on him as a violinist. He had wished his son would have worked harder on the violin. He said his son would have been the greatest violinist in Europe. It turns out his son wasn’t just the greatest violinist in Europe but the greatest musician in the world.’ ”
Posted April 22, 2019
