Woodstock Mozart Festival unveils lineup for 2012 season

Posted March 04, 2012 9:16 pm

Submitted by Woodstock Mozart Festival

The Woodstock Mozart Festival presents a season featuring Grammy Award-winning artists and three diverse concert programs July 28-Aug. 12 at the Woodstock Opera House. Single tickets go on sale Monday, April 16.

The program lineup includes:

Ÿ July 28-29: Popular Chicago keyboard artist David Schrader plays and conducts from his instrument an all-Mozart opening program including Symphony No. 29, K. 201; Piano Concerto No. 8, K. 246 Lutzow; and Piano Concerto No. 9, K. 271 Jeunehomme. Using a “Concert with Conversation” format, Schrader will speak to the audience between selections.

Ÿ Aug. 4-5: Violinists Igor Gruppman, who also conducts, and Vesna Gruppman perform Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins, BMV 1043; Grieg’s Holberg Suite; Mahler’s Adagietto for Strings and Harp; and Arnold’s Concerto for Two Violins, Op. 77 — the latter earning them a Grammy Award. A world-renowned artistic team, the Gruppmans live in Rotterdam, Holland, where he is concertmaster of the Rotterdam Philharmonic.

Ÿ Aug. 11-12: Popular Dutch conductor Arthur Arnold returns to lead a program, featuring former Chicago Symphony principal oboist Alex Klein, including Pleyel’s Symphony No. 1, Op. 3; Mozart’s Oboe Concerto, K. 314 (285d); Schubert’s Symphony No. 5, D. 485; and Choro no Capricho, a choro version of Paganini’s 24th Caprice, arranged for oboe by Alex Klein.

The 2012 Woodstock Mozart Festival takes place July 28 to Aug. 12 at 8 p.m. Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sundays at the Woodstock Opera House, 121 Van Buren St., Woodstock. Preconcert introductions take place one hour before each of the performances Aug. 4, 5, 11 and 12. Tickets are $30-$52 and $25 for students, per program. Single tickets go on sale April 16 through the Woodstock Opera House box office at (815) 338-5300 or at woodstockoperahouse.com. For more information about the Festival, visit mozartfest.org.

The Woodstock Mozart Festival’s first performances took place in 1987 at the restored 1880s Woodstock Opera House in an environment reminiscent of Mozart’s day. From the beginning, the festival showcased internationally recognized guest artists and conductors during its three weekends of concerts in late July and early August. The festival’s goal is to maintain a superb orchestra that delivers extraordinary performances to inspire and educate audiences of all ages under the banner “Mozart … and More!” The Woodstock Mozart Festival is a member of the League of American Orchestras and the Illinois Arts Alliance. Funding is provided by the Illinois Arts Council, the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, the Arts Work Fund for Organizational Development, the MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture, the AptarGroup Charitable Foundation and private and corporate contributions.

On Aug. 4-5, violinists Igor and Vesna Gruppman from Holland will perform during the second weekend of the Woodstock Mozart Festival. Igor Gruppman, who is concertmaster of the Rotterdam Philharmonic, also will conduct. Courtesy of the Woodstock Mozart Festival

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