Manchester Camerata is music to our ears
A 17-year-old Amadeus Mozart was already renowned as a composer of flair and irreverence.
It was a cheek which would later see him given the boot, literally, as court composer to the Prince Archbishop Of Salzburg – who kicked the young musician's backside as he sacked him.
Already established, though in a slightly less extravagant way, was Joseph Haydn – who preferred to make his point through his compositions.
Both musicians are featured in a performance by the Manchester Camerata at Bridlington Spa this Wednesday.
And for Michael Gurevich, a Dutch violinist who is the musical director of the Camerata, it shows the extraordinary atmosphere of Vienna in that era – as Mozart was inspired by the work of the older composer, later to be his tutor.
"In this day and age, we hear a lot of classical music – we almost expect the genius of people who were working in Vienna at the time," Michael said.
"But you look at what they were doing – and how they were playing with the expectations of the audience – and you realise how revolutionary it all was."
The concert features Mozart's Violin Concerto No.1 in B flat major K20. Written before Mozart had actually met Haydn, it was thought to have been influenced by the older composer's work – who was hailed as the "father of the string quartet".
Also on the programme is Haydn's Symphony No 45 in F sharp minor "Farewell", a response to a decision by his patron.
In contrast to his incessantly travelling Mozart, Haydn spent almost his entire career in one place – running the music for the Esterházy court at the palace of Esterháza and the castle at Eisenstadt.
Haydn's boss Prince Nikolaus had decreed that the annual 'de-camp' to the summer retreat at Eisenstadt in 1772 would be for staff and musicians only, not their families.
Conceived as a musical hint to the prince, the composition's final movement is a long coda which sees each musician exit the stage.
"It's a subtle way of making a point," said Michael.
"Haydn was a revolutionary in every sense – it was not expected of any composer to talk back to an employer.
"But he made his hint softly and the prince took notice – he told the orchestra to go home the next day."
* Manchester Camerata appear at The Spa Bridlington, South Marine Drive, Bridlington, on Wednesday at 7.30pm. Tickets are £12-£15, call (01262) 678258
Michael Gurevich
