It is unlikely that Mozart ever decorated a Christmas tree. At the time, this was a custom confined to Protestant families in northern and central Germany, for whom these trees, which remain green throughout the winter, symbolised perseverance and hope – Austria was then under the rule of the Catholic Habsburg dynasty. Interestingly, we recognise that same enduring quality in Mozart’s music: in its own way, it withstands the winters of life. A fine example of this is the Oboe Concerto, the score of which was rediscovered after more than a century of obscurity. Even more evident are the Viennese symphonies: taken together, the Haffner and the Jupiter convey the universal dimension and posthumous impact of his legacy. After all, Mozart is whatever one wishes him to be.
Natal com Mozart
Tribeca Festival Lisboa
Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa
W. A. Mozart Symphony N.º 35, Haffner
W. A. Mozart Oboe Concerto in C major
W. A. Mozart Symphony N.º 41, ‘Jupiter’
Luis Auñón Perez, oboe
Pedro Amaral, conductor
