Sound Conservatory hosts Mozart B-day concert

Jonathan Turner
·2 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

What’s so great about Mozart? Well, just about everything.

A former child prodigy, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) was staggeringly prolific, penning at least 626 published works over his eventful 35-year life, culminating in his famous unfinished Requiem, immortalized in the 1984 Milos Forman film, “Amadeus.”

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), as seen in a painting on a Sound Conservatory video.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), as seen in a painting on a Sound Conservatory video.

On the 268th anniversary of his Jan. 27 birth, the Sound Conservatory (504 17th St., Moline) is celebrating the extraordinary composer in a concert Saturday, Jan. 27 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

This enchanting event promises an unforgettable evening filled with breathtaking performances by bassoonist Kian Hyatt, flutist Paul Mizzi, hornist Marc Zyla, baritone Nathan Windt, pianists Sheila Doak, Marian Lee and Andrzej Kozlowski, according to a Sound Conservatory release.

Mozart — an influential Austrian composer of the Classical era — left an indelible mark on the world of music, the release says. He displayed prodigious talent from a young age, composing his first symphony at the age of eight.

Pianist and Sound Conservatory owner Andrzej Kozlowski
Pianist and Sound Conservatory owner Andrzej Kozlowski

Mozart’s music is “celebrated for its exceptional beauty, balance, and emotional depth,” Sound Conservatory says. “He seamlessly blended melody, harmony, and form, creating compositions that are both technically masterful and emotionally resonant.” His operas, such as “The Magic Flute” and “Don Giovanni,” are considered masterpieces, showcasing his ability to convey human emotion through music.

“Mozart was a rebel – undermining social and artistic conventions,” pianist and Sound Conservatory owner Kozlowski says in a promo video for the concert. “He criticized the aristocracy and got away with it. In spite of his childish and bossy behavior, his music was the farthest from that.

Baritone Nathan Windt will sing Mozart operatic selections at the Saturday concert.
Baritone Nathan Windt will sing Mozart operatic selections at the Saturday concert.

“His music was pure, was graceful and refined,” Kozlowski said. “He was a virtuoso pianist who wrote for every genre – operas, symphonies, chamber works.”

Mozart’s legacy endures as a testament to the timeless power of his music, continuing to captivate audiences and musicians alike centuries after his death in 1791.

Saturday’s program will feature:

  • Bassoon Concerto (K. 191), performed by Kian Hyatt

  • Horn Concerto (K. 447), performed by Marc Zyla

  • Operatic excerpts sung by baritone Nathan Windt

  • Piano Trio No. 8 (K. 564), performed by Hyatt, Kozlowski and Paul Mizzi

“He is a legend for what he could do in classical music,” Windt said, noting any musician always gets excited when they are playing or singing Mozart.

Bassoonist Kian Hyatt will perform a Mozart bassoon concerto in the 5:30 p.m. program Jan. 27, at 504 17th St., Moline.
Bassoonist Kian Hyatt will perform a Mozart bassoon concerto in the 5:30 p.m. program Jan. 27, at 504 17th St., Moline.

“When learning and playing his music, it really exposes your abilities as a whole,” Hyatt said.

Tickets for the concert are $10-$15, available HERE. For more information on Sound Conservatory, click HERE.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.