Mozart – Piano Concerto No. 23 in A, K. 488
Pieces:
- Mozart, Piano Concerto no. 23 in A major. K488.
- Beethoven, Symphony no. 2 in D major. Op 36
- Messiaen, Les Offrandes Oubliees, for Orchestra
- Murail, Le Desenchantement du Monde.
Venue:
Avery Fisher Hall, Manhattan New York.
Performers:
New York Philharmonic; Orchestra. David Robertson; Conductor. Pierre-Laurent Aimard; Piano soloist.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a great composer and musical genius from the classical era. His music expressed a mastery of the classical form, bound in structure and tradition. One of Mozart’s most representative pieces of his style and his contributions to the aesthetics of classical music is piano concerto no 23. At the time of its composition concertos were growing in popularity, and pieces like piano concerto no 23 helped to increase the genre’s popularity. Listening to a live performance of concerto no 23 should show the brilliance of Mozart that brought prominence to the genre.
Source:
Rushton, Julian. Mozart. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2006. Print.
Ludwig Van Beethoven’s music marked the transition from the dominance of the classical music era to the romantic era. Beethoven’s music was greatly influenced by his predecessors Mozart and Haydn. Beethoven’s earlier works especially show inspirations from the likes of Mozart. Beethoven’s symphonies were an interpretation and continuation from the musical tradition established in the baroque period. Beethoven’s second Symphony was written in 1802. It was while composing his second symphony that Beethoven started to lose his hearing. It is amazing g how Beethoven could go on to compose such great works without being able to hear.
Source:
Solomon, Maynard. Beethoven. London: Schirmer, 1998. Print.
Oliver Messiaen was a French composer and musical innovator, of the 20th century whose work took inspirations from many different cultures. Messiaen was one of the first composers to use an electronic keyboard in his orchestral performances. He also was a very religious man, and his music was deeply rooted in his religious convictions. Messiaen was appointed organist at the Église de la Sainte-Trinité in Paris 1931,a roman catholic church, the same year that Les Offrandes Oubliées made its debut. His position in the church resulted in works that were very spiritual in nature. From a Messiaen performance, I would expect to hear music that has a religious and spiritual tone. Les Offrandes Oubliées offers to tell the story of Christ’s sacrifice through music.
Source:
Hill, Peter, and Nigel Simeone. Messiaen. New Haven, CT: Yale UP, 2005. Print.