Article by Kristen Schweizer
June 12, 2021
“Wonderful. Tremendous. The darkness and joy together.”
The above audience member comment was meant to compliment the choice of opening Mainly Mozart’s 2021 Festival of Orchestras with Mozart No. 40 and Beethoven No. 5, but it also described an important moment in the nearly sold-out evening.
Music Director Maestro Michael Francis lifted his baton, and the audience was greeted with a sound even more familiar than the opening of Beethoven’s Fifth: a siren. Off in the distance, an emergency vehicle twisting down Via De La Valle, served as a somber reminder of the past year. Francis – like Mainly Mozart itself – only hesitated for a beat, then, with an intentional flick of the wrist, the All-Star Orchestra drowned the siren in music.
In a similar fashion, Mainly Mozart has been choosing to press through. In 2020, it distinguished itself as the first in America to produce live classical music and an orchestral festival for a live audience. Drive-in concerts started this past July to nationwide praise.
The star-studded roster behind the June 2021 series includes soloists Martin Chalifour (LA Phil Concertmaster), David Kim (Philadelphia Orchestra Concertmaster), Conrad Jones (Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Principal Trumpet), and Mainly Mozart’s own George Li.
For over thirty years, their Festival Orchestra has been home to the largest gathering of concertmasters and principal players in the United States.
The well-spaced picnic pods range from a downright bargain ($49/BYOB pod for up to four guests) to a luxurious experience ($500/VIP table, including a curated charcuterie plate, bottle of sparkling wine, and sparkling or still water). After a year of practice in safe events, the event team considered all details, even individually lighting waste baskets.
Concerts began last night and run through June 19, 2021 at the Surf Cup Sports Park in Del Mar. Tickets are still available!
Opening Night – Friday, June 11, 2021 @ 8pm PST
- MOZART: Symphony No. 40, G minor, K. 550
- BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 5, Op. 67, C minor
Hayden Trumpet & Mozart 39 – Saturday, June 12, 2021 @ 8pm PST
- RAVEL: Le Tombeau de Couperin
- J. HAYDN: Trumpet Concerto, E-flat Major
Soloist: Trumpet – Conrad Jones.
- MOZART: Symphony No. 39, E-flat Major, K. 543
The Virtuoso & Mozart Eine Kleine – Wednesday, June 16, 2021 @ 8pm PST
- MOZART: Eine kleine Nachtmusik (Serenade, K. 525)
- BRUCH: Violin Concerto No. 1, Op. 26, G minor
Soloist: Violin – David Kim.
- KODÁLY: Dances of Galánta
Mozart & Beethoven – Friday, June 18, 2021 @ 8pm PST
- MOZART: 5 Contradanses for Orchestra, K. 609
- BEETHOVEN: 12 Contradanses, WoO 14
- ARVO PART: Fratres for solo violin, string orchestra and percussion
Soloist: Violin – Martin Chalifour.
- BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 3, Op. 55, E-flat Major Eroica
Closing Night – Saturday, June 19, 2021 @ 8pm PST
· MOZART: Piano Concerto No. 24, C minor, K. 491
· BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 7, Op. 92, A Major
For information on the Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival, or to purchase tickets, please visit https://www.mainlymozart.org/. Vanguardistas save 20% using the promo code vanguard21 now through June 19th.
