The principal conductor of the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg is the Dutch-born Hubert Soudant, who led the Nouvel Orchestre Philharmonique de France in Paris from 1981 to 1983 and the Utrecht Symphony Orchestra from 1983 to 1986. In addition to his activities in Salzburg, Soudant is also the principal conductor of the Orchestra and Opéra des Pays de Loire in Nantes and Angers, France. In this interview conducted by Horant H. Hohlfeld, Hubert Soudant speaks about the orchestral work “An die Königin der Nacht” by Alexander Mullenbach, the world premiere of which he subsequently conducted. “An die Königin der Nacht” was commissioned by the International Mozarteum Foundation and written in 1997. It was given its world premiere on 23 January 1998 at the opening concert of the 1998 Salzburg “Mozartwoche” by the Mozarteum Orchestra of Salzburg under Hubert Soudant. Alexander Mullenbach was born in Luxembourg in 1949. As with so many composers of today, the composer’s work catalogue mirrors a strong interest in the music of earlier eras. The relationship to the past is clearly evoked in the titles of pieces such as the violin works “Für Orlando di Lasso” (1993) and “Capriccio per Niccolò Paganini” (1994), for example. In other pieces, one notices a strong affinity to Johann Sebastian Bach, Romantic music and the French impressionists.
Mozart, Symphony No.25 in G minor, K. 183 (Mozartwoche 1998)
The Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg was originally founded in 1841 as the “Dom-Musik-Verein und Mozarteum.” Since 1958 it has been Salzburg’s municipal and state orchestra, and concertizes regularly at both the Salzburg Festival and the Mozartwoche. The principal conductor of the orchestra as well as the conductor of this recording is the Dutch maestro Hubert Soudant. He led the Nouvel Orchestre Philharmonique de France in Paris from 1981 to 1983 and the Utrecht Symphony Orchestra in Holland from 1983 to 1986.
Mozart, Piano Concerto No.23 in A major, K. 488 (Mozartwoche 1998)
The Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg was originally founded in 1841 as the “Dom-Musik-Verein und Mozarteum.” Since 1958 it has been Salzburg’s municipal and state orchestra, and concertizes regularly at both the Salzburg Festival and the Mozartwoche. The principal conductor of the orchestra as well as the conductor of this recording is the Dutch maestro Hubert Soudant. He led the Nouvel Orchestre Philharmonique de France in Paris from 1981 to 1983 and the Utrecht Symphony Orchestra in Holland from 1983 to 1986. The pianist Till Fellner was born in Vienna and studied with Alfred Brendel and Oleg Maisenberg, among others.
Mullenbach, “An die Königin der Nacht” for Orchestra (Mozartwoche 1998)
“An die Königin der Nacht” was commissioned by the International Mozarteum Foundation and written in 1997. It was given its world premiere on 23 January 1998 at the opening concert of the 1998 Salzburg “Mozartwoche” by the Mozarteum Orchestra of Salzburg under Hubert Soudant. Alexander Mullenbach was born in Luxembourg in 1949. As with so many composers of today, the composer’s work catalogue mirrors a strong interest in the music of earlier eras. The relationship to the past is clearly evoked in the titles of pieces such as the violin works “Für Orlando di Lasso” (1993) and “Capriccio per Niccolò Paganini” (1994), for example. In other pieces, one notices a strong affinity to Johann Sebastian Bach, Romantic music and the French impressionists.
Mozart, Maurerische Trauermusik in C Major, K. 477 (479b) (Mozartwoche 1998)
The “Masonic Funeral Music” was performed at the opening concert of the 1998 Salzburg “Mozartwoche” Festival on 23 January 1998. The Mozarteum Orchestra of Salzburg played under Hubert Soudant. The Mozarteum Orchestra of Salzburg became the state and municipal orchestra of the province of Salzburg in 1958 and has been regularly concertizing at the Salzburg Festival and the Mozartwoche. The principal conductor is the Dutch conductor Hubert Soudant, who headed the Nouvel Orchestre Philharmonique de France in Paris from 1981 to 1983 and the Utrecht Symphony Orchestra in Holland from 1983 to 1986. Next to his work in Salzburg, Soudant is also principal conductor of the Orchestra and Opera of the “Pays de Loire” in Nantes and Angers, France.
Mozart, Serenade in D major, K.250 “Haffner” (with March K.249) (Mozartwoche 1999)
The Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg has been the orchestra of the city and Land of Salzburg since 1958 and regularly concertizes at the Salzburg Festival and the Mozartwoche. The principal conductor is the Dutch-born Hubert Soudant, who led the Nouvel Orchestre Philharmonique de France in Paris from 1981 to 1983 and the Utrecht Symphony Orchestra from 1983 to 1986. In addition to his activities in Salzburg, Soudant is also the principal conductor of the Orchestra and Opéra des Pays de Loire in Nantes and Angers, France. This work was commissioned by Siegmund Haffner Jr., whose father had been a respected Salzburg businessman and public figure, to celebrate the marriage of one of his sisters. The wedding took place on 22 July 1776, and the serenade played the previous evening. It was performed on many occasions in subsequent years, also in a shortened version as a symphony.