In its 70th year, the London Mozart Players, the UKs longest established chamber orchestra, with Howard Shelley at the piano, presents iconic works of the classical era pioneers: Haydn, Mozart and Hummel.
Two majestic symphonies bookend this afternoon of classical gems, embracing the heart-melting core of Mozart’s sublime Piano Concerto No 23 in A, and a rare performance of Hummel’s Concertino in G. A generation apart, Haydn was the warm and generous mentor, with Mozart his plucky and appreciative pupil. With these masters dominating the Classical era, many of their contemporaries remain overshadowed, including Hummel. A friend of Haydn, Mozart and later Beethoven, Hummel’s brilliance has long been overlooked: Howard Shelley – one of this underrated composer’s greatest exponents, redresses the balance.
Pianist and Conductor, Howard Shelley, has made over 160 CDs, and his recordings of the Haydn London Symphonies – of which No 95 is the third, as well as the other works on this programme, are regularly heard on Classic FM stations around the world. His long association with the London Mozart Players has evolved into an intuitive partnership on the concert platform that audiences adore.