Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro, K. 492 Overture

Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), is a four-act opera buffa premiered in Vienna in 1786. The opera was initially considered scandalous due to its depiction of servants outsmarting the aristocracy. It was adapted by Da Ponte to be less overtly political than the original play while keeping the fast-paced, comedic action. The story follows Figaro and Susanna, servants of Count Almaviva, on their wedding day. The plot involves complex schemes, disguises, and mistaken identities. The energetic, fast-paced overture sets the chaotic tone of the day.

Johann Nepomuk: Trumpet Concerto

Hummel’s Trumpet Concert in E-flat Major is a cornerstone of classical repertoire. It showcases the fully chromatic “keyed trumpet”, featuring a brilliant, lyrical style, in three movements. The piece represents a shift from the natural trumpet (limited to overtone series) to the chromatic capability of the keyed trumpet, allowing for more melodic expression in the lower registers. We’ll be hearing the first movement today, Allegro con spirito, a “Mannheim rocket” opening with a brisk tempo, followed by a lyrical second theme.

Sergei Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf

Composed in 1936, Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, Op. 67 is a “symphonic fairy tale for children” designed to teach children to identify orchestra instruments, with both music and narration written by the composer, it has become a staple of youth concerts. The story consists of a brave young Pioneer named Peter who ignores his grandfather’s warnings, enters the forest, and with the help of a bird, cat, and hunters, captures the wolf.