By Steve Cooke
Last year one of the most enjoyable and memorable events I was privileged to attend in writing this Column was Manchester Camerata’s Mozart Made In Manchester, at the Stoller Hall.
So, it is with much excitement that I look forward to the second instalment. This time promising to delve further into the sound-world of Mozart’s later operas as well as some of his most epic piano concertos, this will be Mozart at his very best, performed with the flair and chemistry of Camerata Leader Gábor Takács-Nagy with eminent pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet.
Be it opening Glastonbury festival in front of 40,000 people or working intimately in care homes with people living with dementia, Manchester Camerata believe in the transformative and connecting nature of music. ‘That connection drives us, and we work with the best creative talent to make this happen.’
With their live performances they are renowned for playing music with no boundaries. From an orchestral rave performed in isolation to over one million people during the Covid-19 pandemic, to touring Mozart in the most beautifully intimate concert halls or re-imagining classical music with electronic producers at the top of their game – ‘we believe great music is great music and we present this to you at the highest level’.
To achieve this artistic excellence and forward-thinking ethos, collaboration is at the heart of everything Camerata do. Led by visionary Music Director, Gábor Takács-Nagy, collaborating with diverse international artists, from New Order to Martha Argerich to Aziz Ibrahim to Lewis Capaldi.
Music Director Gábor Takács-Nagy explains.’There’s a real trust between myself and the musicians, and with this comes an openness to taking risks – creative risks that help us achieve the unimaginable. The composer feels an emotion and finds the notes for it – we performers have to find the spiritual values behind each note. This drives me musically – I am not a genius but hopefully have antennas to them.’
Programme
Mozart Overture to The Abduction from the Seraglio K.384
Mozart Piano Concerto No.11 in F major K.413
Mozart Piano Concerto No.12 in A major K.414
Mozart Piano Concerto No.13 in C major K.415
Performed by
Piano Jean-Efflam Bavouzet
Conductor Gábor Takács-Nagy
Manchester Camerata
Mozart: Made In Manchester - Saturday 25 March, 7:30PM -THE STOLLER HALL, 8 Hunts Bank Approach, Manchester M3 1DA
£39.50 - £5.50
Phone: 0333 130 0967
