MOZART IN LONDON
The young Mozart stayed in London from April 1764 to July 1765; it was there that he composed his first symphony, aged eight, and his first concert aria, aged nine. This fascinating programme of delightful rarities explores the cosmopolitan musical scene that the young composer encountered, and offers an intriguing cross-section of the music being performed in the English capital during his stay. The programme can optionally feature readings delivered by an actor, and we can also extend this programme to offer a pair of concerts on consecutive nights. Our 2-CD ‘Mozart in London’ recording was selected as Editor’s Choice by Gramophone and Recording of the Month by Presto Classical and Limelight, and is available on Signum Classics.
| Sample Programme | |
| Mozart | Symphony No. 1 in E flat major, K. 16 |
| J. C. Bach | “Cara la dolce fiamma” from Adriano in Siria |
| Mozart | Concert aria, “Va dal furor portato”, K. 21 |
| J. C. Bach | Harpsichord Concerto in D major, Op. 1, No. 6 |
| Interval | |
| Arne | Overture and Duet, “O Dolly, I part” from The Guardian Outwitted |
| Duni | “To speak my mind” from The Maid of the Mill |
| Arnold | “Hist hist, I hear my mother call” from The Maid of the Mill |
| Arne | “Thou like the glorious sun” from Artaxerxes |
| Perez | “Se non ti moro a lato” from Solimano |
| Abel | Symphony in E flat major, Op. 7, No. 6 |
Forces: 2 singers (soprano, tenor), reader (optional but recommended), 0.2.0.1. – 2.0.0.0. strings, harpsichord
Mozart in London
Released on Signum Classics in 2018
“Bold yet highly sensitive, Page and his musicians show what makes this music great. Page draws on a deep bench of vocal talent; of his eight soloists, Rebecca Bottone and Robert Murray stand out especially for the ability, so prized in Mozart’s London, of getting across a dramatic character in just one air. Page’s band, The Mozartists make the colours and expressiveness leap off the page.”
BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE
“There are excellent performances of some of the fledgling Mozart’s London pieces interspersed among an abundance of rarely investigated repertory that was researched and edited especially for the occasion…Page’s knack for choosing interesting singers yields contributions from eight highly capable soloists…Nevertheless, the star of the show is the superb orchestra, which never sounds in the least bit perfunctory or formulaic.”
GRAMOPHONE
