Ludwig Van Beethoven once wrote that, “To play a wrong note is insignificant, but to play without passion is inexcusable.” In a sense, the same can be said of the music Beethoven composed, as well as his fellow prominent contemporaries, Franz Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Collectively, every note these composers penned produced such rich, passionate music that they became known as the “First Viennese School” of music composers – the originators of a new art music that defined what is now known as the Classical Era of Western music.
One of the primary mediums through which these composers expressed their musical creativity was the orchestra. Through the early eighteenth century, the orchestra was mostly used as an ensemble to accompany the most popular form of entertainment at the time, the theater, or opera. As European composers gained more prominence and patronage, they were able to seek greater expression in their work – and since the orchestra afforded great power and a variety of timbres it became the ideal vehicle through which they could express their creativity. Soon, these small theater ensembles expanded thanks to the incredible ingenuity of the many symphonies that Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven composed.
Music Celebrations International is pleased to present the Viennese Masters Orchestra Invitational, an exclusive opportunity for orchestras to perform the works of these and other great Viennese masters of music composition on the world’s premier concert stage – the Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall. Four auditioned orchestras will be featured in performance at this historic concert venue. All participating ensembles are selected by application process through Music Celebrations.
Details on how to participate will be available in April. Please visit our website to be added to the list to receive information once its available.
5/3/16 UPDATE: The 2017 Viennese Masters Orchestra Invitational is now open for applicants! Visit us our webpage to see the festival brochure, application, and to contact us about participation.