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The KPAC Blog features classical music news, reviews, and analysis from South Texas and around the world.

French Master Shows Romantic Side With Mozart Gem

John Clare / Texas Public Radio

Two works share the San Antonio Symphony program this weekend with conductor Sebastian Lang Lessing: Shostakovich'sSymphony No.8 and Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 22 with soloist Michel Dalberto.

Audiences won't expect the romantic sounds of Ferruccio Busoni when they hear  the Mozart - but the Italian master wrote cadenzas (solo passages within the concerto) that Dalberto will play. 

"He [Busoni] was not only one of the great Italian pianists, but composers," says Michel. "These cadenzas are refreshing."

The introduction of the Shostakovich is also very rich and romantic - and the World War II work explores lots of colors and emtions throughout its five movements.

http://youtu.be/yGTneUj3Zv4

You might enjoy this scene from the movie Amadeus, where the Piano Concerto #22 is used to nice effect:

http://youtu.be/sPngHl8KNV0

John Clare is comfortable behind a microphone, streaming video or playing violin. A former broadcaster for NPR, John has previously worked with Voice of America, the Canadian Broadcast Corporation and stations in Kansas, Nevada, California, and Pennsylvania.