The viola became Mozart’s most beloved instrument. The distinctively mellow, plaintive sound of the instrument saturates the composer’s sublime Sinfonia Concertante in E major for Violin and Viola, a piece that glows from within when the instruments aren’t chasing each other down. Associate Concertmaster of the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra Charlotte Scott is joined by guest violist Rosalind Ventris for this rousing performance. Mozart also remained fond of his Symphony No. 29 long after it was written. This symphonic coming-of-age oozes well-bred charm on the surface but carries a characteristically Mozartian sadness and depth that cannot help but leave their mark. The composer’s best-known earworm opens this portrait of music’s supreme combiner of energy and grace.

Programme

Mozart – Serenade No 13 in G K 525 Eine kleine Nachtmusik
Mozart – Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola in E flat K 364
Mozart – Symphony No 29 in A K 201

Performers

Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra
Charlotte Scott Violin
Rosalind Ventris Viola
Marios Papadopoulos Conductor

Praised as ‘excellent’ by Gramophone magazine and ‘thoroughly impressive’ by BBC Music Magazine, the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra prides itself on creating exceptional and unique musical experiences, bringing new and engaging interpretations to well-loved works in the classical repertoire. Its continual search for excellence is underpinned by the uncompromising standards of its Founder and Music Director Marios Papadopoulos and maintained by some of the finest musicians in the UK, described by The Times as ‘glorious individual players’ and by Jessica Duchen as ‘a line-up to match any top-notch international ensemble and probably beat them on their own turf’.

The Oxford Philharmonic attracts some of the world’s greatest artists to appear in concert, including Maxim Vengerov, Valery Gergiev, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Martha Argerich, Sir András Schiff, Renée Fleming, Lang Lang, Nicola Benedetti and Vladimir Ashkenazy. In addition to its annual concert season in Oxford and touring performances across the UK, the Orchestra has a growing list of international engagements including its US debut at Carnegie Hall in June 2022.

The Orchestra is firmly committed to outreach work, taking music to areas of social and economic disadvantage. In December 2021 the Orchestra’s sub-principal violin Jamie Hutchinson was awarded the ABO’s prestigious Salomon Prize in recognition of the educational initiatives she spearheaded with the Orchestra’s education team during the pandemic.

The Orchestra and its Music Director were awarded the City of Oxford’s Certificate of Honour in 2013, in recognition of their contribution to education and performance in Oxford.