Historical Renditions of Mozart And Beethoven – The Australian Haydn Ensemble

The Australian Haydn Ensemble presents Beethoven’s Piano Concerto with a formidable duo who are specialists in historical performance taking the lead roles.

In this programme of music by Mozart and Beethoven which features two premiere performances, the orchestra will be led by Marc Destrubé, concertmaster of the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century, with fortepiano virtuoso Neal Peres Da Costa as guest soloist. 

Together they will perform a rare chamber version of Mozart’s ‘Masonic keyed’ Symphony No. 39 along with his string quintet in g minor and a specially commissioned chamber version of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 2.

The arrangement of Mozart’s Symphony No 39 for chamber ensemble was undertaken by Giambattaista Cimador, an Italian composer, singer, violinist and nobleman of the late 18th century. His arrangement of several Mozart symphonies for flute and strings was apparently a result of the refusal of the King’s Theatre orchestra to play the original works because they were too hard!

The specially commissioned arrangement of Beethoven’s second piano concerto is by Australian born composer, violinist and pianist Stephen Yates.

Canadian violinist Marc Destrubé, is concertmaster of the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century, which was established in 1981 by the late recorder player and expert in eighteenth century music Frans Brüggen, who died just last month. The musicians in this ensemble are all specialists in eighteenth and early nineteenth century music and play on period instruments, or on contemporary copies. A performer of great experience and versatility, Destrubé has performed as concertmaster under Sir Simon Rattle, Christopher Hogwood, Philippe Herreweghe, and Frans Brüggen to name a few. He has appeared as soloist and guest director with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra and led the Belgian ensemble Anima Eterna. He was also a founding member of the Canadian ensemble Tafelmusik.

Neal Peres Da Costa has performed and recorded with a host of distinguished soloists and ensembles in Australia and abroad including Dame Emma Kirkby, James Bowman, Derek Lee Ragin, Michael Chance, Pieter Wispelwey, Emmanuel Pahud, and Steven Isserlis; as well, the  London Sinfonietta, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, the Academy of Ancient Music, the Australian Chamber Orchestra, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, the Song Company, Orchestra of the Antipodes, Pinchgut Opera, the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria and Ironwood.

Barely a year old, the Australian Haydn Ensemble established their credentials in 2013 with a season of sold out concerts in the Utzon Room of the Sydney Opera House. The ensemble comprises like-minded artists, brought together by Artistic Director & Violinist Skye McIntosh, deeply committed to careers in performing period music. As well as their 2014 concert series, the Australian Haydn Ensemble is in residence at the Australian National University’s School of Music. Its performers are presently or recent members of acclaimed period instrument ensembles performing today including The English Consort, The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Pinchgut Opera, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, The Australian Chamber Orchestra and The Gabrielli Consort.

The Programme:

Mozart – String Quintet in G minor (1st movement)

Beethoven – Piano Concerto No. 2 arr. Stephen Yates (Premiere)

Mozart – Symphony No. 39 (Chamber version by Cimador in 1800) (Premiere)

Tickets: Adult, Concession, Student and Child tickets rates available.

Online or call Sydney: 02 9250 7777