Viennese music captures the heart of a delray audience

Symphonia brings music of Mozart and Beethoven to Delray!

The Symphonia--South Florida's world class chamber orchestra--presented an enticing selection of classical music pieces--with Viennese origins and connections--on Tuesday March 27 at Delray's Crest Theatre. Dramatic conductor Alastair Willis tied the music selections together throught a fictionalized and engaging narration which transported the audience to 18th and 19th c. Viennese concert halls where composers such as Mozart premiered their own work.  

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Alastair Willis conducted the Symphonia's Viennese concert Tuesday March 27.

The engaging Mr. Willis began the evening in 18th century Vienna. He assumed the role of a nephew of Signmund Haffner der Elder, once mayor of Salzburg and head of a family close to the Mozarts. In this role, from a podium in Vienna, Mr. Willis described some of the great music events of the time, while two digital screens projected pictures of that delightful baroque city on either side of the stage.  The first event was the  moment when Mozart conducted the first performance of his famous Symphony No. 35, "The Haffner" (named after the mayor's family), while Emperor Franz Joseph sat in the royal box above.   

 Naturally, Mr. Willis brought the evening to a close with a composition of  Vienna's most famous 19th century musical family--the Strausses-- 
"The Blue Danube" waltz, which still delights and hypnotizes us today.

Alastair Willis and Charles Wetherbee

It was an evening of joy for both newcomers to the classical music scene, and  afficionados who knew the music by heart. The conductor gave the audience the feeling they were sitting in gilded concert halls of over two centuries ago listening to music that remains as powerful and enjoyable today as it did when it was first performed.  

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This was the first time The Symphonia has performed in the Crest Theatre. The performance was part of a new series entitled "Symphonia Squared" being sponsored in partnership with Old SchoolSquare. For more information on The Symphonia, go to www.thesymphonia.org/