Mozart’s Birthday 2023

This year's gala concert from the Estates Theatre, the only theatre still in use where W. A. Mozart performed in his time.

The concert marking the 267th anniversary of Mozart’s birth features three works from his mature creative phase, in which Prague played a significant role. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 24 in C minor dates from the same period as Le nozze di Figaro, an opera that garnered its first true triumph at the end of 1786 in Prague. At the time, Mozart was writing his 38th symphony, which he brought along during his first visit to the city, in January 1787, and whose world premiere he gave there on 19 January. In response to the enormous popularity Mozart and his music enjoyed among Praguers, the impresario Pasquale Bondini commissioned from him a new opera, which would become Don Giovanni. On 29 October 1787, the Estates Theatre hosted its world premiere, with Mozart himself conducting. In all likelihood, the composer completed the Overture to the “opera of operas” in Prague.

The young Austrian conductor Christoph Koncz, who is directing the concert, seems to have followed in Mozart’s footsteps. An outstanding violinist, whose talent was detected at the tender age of four, in recent years he has also gained recognition as a conductor, working with noted orchestras worldwide. The globally renowned American pianist Robert Levin has appeared at concerts at numerous prominent venues, performing with distinguished conductors and orchestras, and made critically acclaimed recordings for prestigious labels. One of his prime specialisations is music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Production Company Czech Television
Genre Concert TV recording
Orchestra / Band National Theatre Orchestra, Christoph Koncz - conductor, Robert Levin - piano
TV Director Tomáš Šimerda
Distribution TV Czech Television
Camera Martin Kubala
Video format 16:9 HD
Duration 75 minutes
Production year 2023