Classical Notes: January 27, 2010 Archive

Happy Birthday Mozart

Posted at 3:13 AM on January 27, 2010 by Ward Jacobson (2 Comments)
Filed under: Musician stories

Mozart was born 254 years ago today (1/27/1756) and of all the great Mozart stories out there, this is one of my favorites:

Mozart was in his mid 20s, and up to his arms in work when his (often pushy) father, Leopold, made a request. He asked Mozart to write a symphony for some festive occasion in the house of the "Mayor" of Salzburg - Siegmund Haffner.

The story goes that Mozart composed the work at top speed (remember, he was swamped!) - so fast, in fact, that he finished it, sent it off to Dad, and then promptly forgot all about it. And then, when the manuscript eventually was returned, he was stunned at how good the work was. Today we know it as Mozart's SYMPHONY #35, the Haffner Symphony. Just another day at work for the musical genius.

So what's YOUR favorite Mozart story?

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James Galway Can't Play the Flute

Posted at 12:35 PM on January 27, 2010 by Gillian Martin
Filed under: In the media, Musician stories

Well, not with two broken arms, he can't.

Apparently Sir James took a nasty fall around the start of the New Year, shattering the elbow on one arm and breaking his wrist on the other. Ouch.

While he's cancelled all his February performances, he hopes to be back in the game by March, according to a statement on his website.

When he gets to Michigan in early March to play with the Detroit Symphony, I'm sure he and conductor Leonard Slatkin will compare notes about unexpected medical leaves.