PROGRAMME
W. A. MOZART: Piano Concerto No.18 K.456
L. JANÁČEK: Mládí
W. A. MOZART: Piano Concerto No.21 K.467

PERFORMING WITH
Mitsuko Uchida piano & director
José Maria Blumenschein concertmaster & leader
Mahler Chamber Orchestra

MCO NOTE
Our tour with Artistic Partner Mitsuko Uchida brings us to the USA for the fifth time. For this edition, Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 18 and No. 21 frame Leoš Janáček’s wind sextet, Mládí (Youth).

Often overshadowed by his more famous B-flat concerto (Piano Concerto No. 27), No. 18 leans towards the entertaining rather than the profoundly expressive, offering glimpses of the deeper poignance that would characterize Mozart’s later works. Uchida’s interpretation brings out the concerto’s intricate elegance, highlighting its playful yet sophisticated nature.

Janáček’s Mládí adds contrast to the program. Composed during a reflective period in Janáček’s life, this wind sextet is a recollection of his youth, infused with astute humor and classical form. Written during a stay in his birthplace of Hukvaldy, Janáček uses fresh expressions and a quote from his earlier work, March of the Blue Boys, to evoke the spirit of his younger days. The addition of a bass clarinet to the traditional wind quintet lends the piece a unique, rich texture.

The concert concludes with Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21, K. 467, a work of depth and beauty. Known for its large melodic leaps and underlying restlessness, this concerto’s middle movement is particularly renowned for its expressive poignancy.