ASU to Share the Magic of Mozart During 250th Birthday Celebration

TEMPE, Ariz. - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - the name summons up visions of powdered wigs, aristocrats, concerts halls and opera houses. Whether you realize it or not, the music of this 18 th century genius pervades our society, appearing as the soundtrack in cartoons, movies, elevators -- just about anywhere there is music.

The year 2006 marks the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth in Salzburg, Austria. In celebration of this occasion, the Herberger College School of Music at Arizona State University will pay tribute to and highlight the prolific career of one of the greatest composers who ever lived with a year-long festival titled, "Mozart 250 @ ASU." Both valley and campus communities are invited to join the School of Music students and enjoy all of the festivities, which include Mozart concerts, films, exhibits and lectures. All concerts are free, unless otherwise noted.

A composer of literally all genres - opera, symphonies, string quartets, songs, divertimenti, serenades, and concertos- Mozart, also a child prodigy, has influenced every major composer and many song writers since his days in Vienna. "All of the musicians of the Herberger College School of Music have been greatly influenced by the music of Mozart," said Wayne Bailey, Director, School of Music.

The peak of the events will occur on Jan. 27 when Arizona State University officially recognizes and celebrates the 250th birthday of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with "Happy Birthday Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. " As part of this celebration, School of Music classes will be canceled in order for students to participate in performances and lectures across campus.

Campus-wide "Happy Birthday Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart " events include Viennese Coffee House performances at the University Club; a showing of Ingmar Bergmann's Zauberflöte in the School of Music recital hall; and "Serenade" a presentation by ASU faculty and students of one of Mozart's masterpieces, "Serenade3 No. 10 in B-flat, Gran Partita," with a birthday cake and champagne reception. Performances will occur throughout the day at a number of formal and informal sites on campus.

For more information on Mozart 250 @ ASU, please go to the School of Music Web site at http://music.asu.edu/mozart250. All events are free unless otherwise noted.

A full schedule of Mozart 250 @ ASU and Happy Birthday Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart events follows.

CONCERTS & RECITALS
All performances include a pre-concert lecture at curtain time. See lecture schedule at http://music.asu.edu/mozart250.

The Complete Keyboard Sonatas
School of Music keyboard faculty members will perform each of Mozart's 18 keyboard sonatas. Performing are Professors Campbell, Cosand, Ehlers, Hamilton, Meir, Pagano, Rampe, Sellheim, Tescarollo and Thompson. Wednesdays - Oct. 12, Nov. 30, Jan. 25, March 1, March 29, April 12, 7:30 p.m., Katzin Concert Hall.

Faculty Artist Recitals
Throughout the year-long Mozart Celebration, the faculty recital series highlights School of Music faculty members performing works of Mozart at their annual recitals. Visit http://herbergercollege.asu.edu/facultyseries/ for a complete schedule.

The Complete Works for Piano Four Hands
Dian Baker and Professor Eckart Sellheim present two recitals of Mozart's music for four hands on the fortepiano. Fridays - Oct. 28 and Feb. 3 ; 7:30 p.m., Katzin Concert Hall

Sonatas for Keyboard and Violin
Students in the violin studios of Professors Swartz, McLin and Jiang join with students in the collaborative piano studios of Professors Sellheim and Campbell to perform Mozart's keyboard and violin sonatas. Students will work with German Baroque violinist Anton Steck, who will be in residence at ASU Nov. 18-20. Culminating performances include two events: 
Concert -Anton Steck and Eckart Sellheim: Sunday, Nov. 20 , 2:30 p.m., Katzin Concert Hall 
Student performances: Tuesday, Nov. 22 , 5 p.m., Recital Hall

Song Recital
Students from the collaborative piano studios and voice studios present a recital of Mozart songs for one or more voices and fortepiano. Tuesday,Nov. 8 , 7:30 p.m., Katzin Concert Hall

STUDENT ENSEMBLES
Chamber Orchestra
Mozart at 250! The ASU Chamber Orchestra, under the baton of Dr. Timothy Russell, celebrates the 250th anniversary of the birth of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The program includes such beloved works as Overture to Titus ; Sinfonia Concertante for Violin, Viola and Orchestra ; andSymphony No. 35 "Haffner." String faculty members Katie McLin, violin, and Nancy Buck, viola, are featured soloists. Tuesday, Feb. 21, 7:30 p.m., Gammage Auditorium

Chamber Winds
Glass Armonica and Chamber Ensemble . This performance by ASU's most select wind band celebrates Benjamin Franklin's 300 th birthday and his invention of the glass armonica in Mozart's compositions for this unique instrument. Tuesday, Sept. 20, 7:30 p.m., Katzin Concert Hall

Opera Arias & Wind Serenades. Conducted by Martin Province, The Chamber Winds performs Mozart's wind serenades and wind band arrangements of famous opera arias. Jan. 31, 10:30 a.m., Kerr Cultural Center in Scottsdale. Tickets required. (480) 596-2660.

Wind Serenades
Student wind ensembles, led by Professor Martin Schuring, perform two serenades:
Sept. 30 Serenade in c minor, K.388
March 24 Serenade in E-flat Major, K.375
Fridays , 7:30 p.m., Katzin Concert Hall

Showcase Chamber Music Concerts
A selection of the great works of Mozart will be performed by ASU's student chamber ensembles, both instrumental and vocal. Thursdays, Dec. 1 and April 13 , 7:30 p.m., Katzin Concert Hall

GUEST ARTISTS
All guest artists will conduct masterclasses and perform.
German Baroque violinist Anton Steck performs with ASU's Eckart Sellheim. Sunday, Nov. 20, 2:30 p.m., Katzin Concert Hall

REBEL Ensemble, a New York-based Baroque chamber music ensemble, performs in concert Saturday, Feb. 25, 7:30 p.m., Katzin Concert Hall.Tickets required. (480)965-6447.

World-class chamber ensemble, the St. Lawrence String Quartet, performs in recital as part of their year-long residency at ASU's School of Music.Thursday , Jan. 26, 7:30 p.m., Katzin Concert Hall. Tickets required . (480)965-6447.

MOZART AT THE MOVIES
This series of films highlights Mozart's life and work, including productions of two of his most famous operas, as well as a demonstration by esteemed American violinist Isaac Stern to the Chinese people on how to understand and play the music of Mozart. All films shown Fridays, 5 p.m., Recital Hall

Sept. 2 Peter Shaffer's Amadeus
Oct. 7 Isaac Stern's From Mao to Mozart
Nov. 4 Joseph Losey's Don Giovanni
Jan. 27 Ingmar Bergmann's Zauberflöte

LIBRARY EXHIBIT
The music library presents an exhibit of facsimiles, early editions, scores, sketch books and posters, featuring the prolific career of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

January 17- March 31, regular business hours in the Music Library, 3 rd floor, Music building. For hours of operation:http://asu.edu/lib/libraries/music.

LECTURES
Faculty in the School of Music present lectures on the works and life of Mozart.
All lectures are held on Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m., Recital Hall.

September 6. The Mozart Effect: Separating Fact from Myth. Professor Barbara Crowe, Director of Music Therapy at ASU, applies her expertise in music therapy to the much-publicized notion that listening to the music of Mozart increases intelligence.

October 4. Chance Minuets and Dirty Canons . Music Theory and Composition Professors James DeMars and Amy Holbrook discuss the dice games and other chance operations used in Mozart's time to compose dance melodies. They also look at Mozart's canons - particularly the playful ones stemming from his bright social life in Vienna.

November 22. From Prodigy to Jupiter: Mozart's Evolution as a Symphonist . Music Theory Professor Ellon Carpenter presents an overview of cultural and stylistic changes in Mozart's life and music as reflected in his symphonies.

January 24, 2006. Analysis Symposium ("The Battle of the Music Theory All-Stars"). Music Theory Professors John Cuciurean and Ellon Carpenter on the first movement of the Symphony No. 25 in G minor, K. 183 - he with a Schenkerian approach, she with the implication/realization model. Professor Holbrook will moderate/referee and introduce the movement.

February 28, 2006. Love at First Hearing? Mozart in Early America. When did Mozart's music become synonymous with high culture in the United States? Professor Kay Norton explores U.S. reception of Mozart's music during the century following the composer's death, 1791 to 1891.

March 21, 2006. Mythical Mozart: Looking into The Magic Flute . Professor Robert Oldani provides an overview of Mozart's last opera, including its Masonic and mythic aspects.

OPERA
The School of Music's Lyric Opera Theatre performs scenes from some of Mozart's best-loved operas, Tuesday, May 2 , 7:30 p.m., Katzin Concert Hall.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
Arizona State University officially declares Friday, January 27, 2006 "Happy Birthday, Mozart from ASU." ASU recognizes and celebrates the 250thbirthday of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with performances and lectures presented across campus:

3:30-6:30 p.m. Viennese Coffee House & Performances, University Club. Including On The Road With The Mozarts Lecture by Eckart Sellheim. RSVP to 480-965-3371.

5 p.m. Ingmar Bergmann's Zauberflöte, Recital Hall

7:30 p.m. "Serenade," Smith Music Theatre. Join Wayne Bailey, Director of the School of Music at ASU, faculty and student performers as they present one of Mozart's masterpieces, the "Gran Partita." Birthday cake and champagne reception to follow.

The School of Music in the Arizona State University Herberger College of Fine Arts is one of the top music schools in the nation. More than 100 music faculty artists and scholars work with approximately 800 music majors each year in research, performance and scholarly activities. It presents approximately 700 concerts and recitals each season. To learn more about the School of Music, visit http://music.asu.edu. 

Media Contact:
Mica Matsoff
(480) 965-0478
Mica.Matsoff@asu.edu