Nestled amid the wide plains of Canada’s prairie provinces is a musical treasure: the Calgary Philharmonic
Orchestra (CPO), one of the most recognized musical organizations in North America. Here, avid music fans,
teachers, students and newcomers to the world of classical music come to immerse themselves in the lives of
history’s music giants. This fall, the CPO invites guests to the Mozart Festival to celebrate the world’s
most famous child prodigy.
The Mozart Festival is presented by the CPO and its music director and master conductor, Maestro Roberto
Minczuk. Minczuk is internationally recognized for his classical works, as well as his dedication to music,
for which he was awarded the coveted “Cultural Personality of the Year” in his native Brazil.
“Our festival has guests really excited — to be able to immerse yourself for two weeks or three weeks
entirely on one composer, you hear his music and you get to know his life,” says Minczuk. This focus on both
the man and the musician is an irresistible draw to fans of Mozart himself, and to newcomers to the world of
classical music.
The festival is a two-week journey beginning on Oct. 28 that will include Mozart’s first and final symphonies
as well as the greatest works ever written for piano, horn, violin and voice. In addition to a renowned
conductor, the festival features some of the biggest stars in the classical world such as violinist Karen
Gomyo, classical clarinetist David Shifrin and acclaimed Canadian pianist Jon Kimura Parker.
The Mozart Festival is a celebration of talent, as well as an introduction to every aspect of Mozart’s life,
including his quirky personality. “Mozart was a fun guy,” Minczuk explains. “He wrote a lot of his
compositions to people he knew, who were very close to him.” Along with dedicating works to his comrades,
Mozart would jokingly baffle those who tried to make sense of his scores by using a variety of differently
coloured inks.
Along with covering a wide range of Mozart’s symphonies, the festival offers a glimpse into Mozart’s world.
One program is to be dedicated entirely to Mozart’s most beloved instrument, the French horn. In an
interesting twist, two instruments will be featured during the program: the French horn, and the natural horn
that Mozart would have owned in his time.
“From a more academic standpoint, we are going to be having discussions providing some context to what was
going on at the time he was composing… We’ve got kind of a celebrity panel that represents different aspects
of knowledge: people talking about the historical context, the economic climate during Mozart’s time,
musicians,” explains Marylou Bennetts, CPO marketing director.
Calgary itself is embracing Mozart’s era. The Calgary Public Library is putting together historical reading
lists and the Cantos Music Foundation is featuring period-appropriate instruments. Calgary restaurants are
embracing Mozart, too, adds Bennetts, by creating themed menus sure to end festival meals on a high note.
There will therefore be the complete range of activities at the festival, covering every age of guest. This
is certainly appropriate as Mozart began composing as early as the age of five — a fact sure to inspire all
who attend this fall.
“You know, some of this music, Mozart was a kid himself when he wrote, and it’s amazing to come to a kid and
say, ‘You know, when Mozart wrote this, he was your age, he was nine years old.’ I think children can
identify and be inspired by it,” says Minczuk.
For more information on the festival, as well as for ticket and pass bookings, visit cpo-live.com.
