Mozart and Haydn in Paris

PROGRAM CONDUCTED BY DONATO CABRERA

François Joseph Gossec - Symphony No. 2 in G Major

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Symphony No. 31 in D Major

Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges - Symphony No. 1 in G Major

Franz Joseph Haydn - Symphony No. 85 in B-flat Major

WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THIS CONCERT

• French Innovator - François-Joseph Gossec: Composer François-Joseph Gossec played a key role in shaping the early symphonic tradition in France, bringing clarity, balance, and orchestral innovation to a musical culture long dominated by opera.
• Mozart in Paris - Symphony No. 31 "Paris": Written for a public concert series, Mozart's Symphony No. 31, known as the "Paris" Symphony, showcases his vibrant orchestration, bold contrasts, and flair for writing music that captivated 18th-century audiences.
• A Trailblazing Virtuoso - Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges: Celebrated as both a composer and violin virtuoso, Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, stood out in 18th-century European concert life for his refined Classical style and technical brilliance.
• Bologne as Conductor and Cultural Leader: Beyond performing under Gossec's direction, Bologne led his own ensemble, the Concert de la Loge Olympique, commissioning and conducting the Paris premiere of Haydn's Symphony No. 85 around 1786.
• Haydn's Symphonic Mastery: Joseph Haydn's symphonies exemplify the wit, surprise, and inventive musical dialogue that helped define the Classical style and shape the future of the modern symphony orchestra.
• Shared Musical Circles in 18th-Century Paris: Gossec, Mozart, Bologne, and Haydn moved within overlapping artistic networks, contributing to a vibrant Classical-era musical culture in which ideas and innovations traveled quickly among composers, performers, and audiences.
• Shared Intellectual and Cultural Ideals: Though working in different places and moments, these composers were united by evolving artistic, political, and philosophical ideas, responding to the currents of their time and helping shape the symphonic tradition as we know it today

approx. 1 hour 45 minutes, with one 20-minute intermission