Mozart's Birthday

Dmitri may have gotten the jump on the whole classical composer mega-birthday celebration thing with the launch of Shostakovich 100 earlier this month, but that doesn't mean Wolfgang Amadeus will be hurting for recognition of his 250th birthday this week. Musicians and fans the world over with be commemorating this significant anniversary of Mozart's birth with a wealth of concerts and special events. In Austin, that means a special lecture on the composer and a performance that will include his "Jeunehomme" piano concerto and beloved "Little Night Music" – both featuring eminent pianist Paul Badura-Skoda.

A. Mozart Fest has a longstanding relationship with the Viennese musician and scholar, and as he's been studying and performing the master's work to worldwide acclaim for a full half-century, who better to discuss the genius of Mozart on this august occasion? Badura-Skoda will deliver his talk on Friday, and as if that weren't enough, he'll be the special guest at the Sunday birthday concert, performing piano concertos nine ("Jeunehomme") and 10 (for two pianos and orchestra, performed with AMF Director Mary Robbins) and conducting Eine Kleine Nachtmusik from the keyboard.

Now, that's not all the Mozart madness in town. The Austin Chamber Music Center serves up a heapin' helpin' of his music – a flute quartet, an oboe quartet, a violin and piano sonata, a piano trio, and more – Friday and Saturday nights in a private residence, then again on Sunday afternoon at First Unitarian Church. Then next weekend the Austin Symphony joins in the fun with Peter Bay leading the orchestra in a pair of performances of Mozart's monumental "Jupiter" symphony and the overture to The Abduction From the Seraglio. It's a Mozartian bounty that's sure to sound as sweet at 250 as the day it was written.

Paul Badura-Skoda delivers the Mozart 250th Birthday Weekend Lecture Friday, Jan. 27, 7pm, at First Baptist Church, 901 Trinity. The Mozart 250th Birthday Weekend Concert will be Sunday, Jan. 29, 3pm, also at First Baptist. For more information, call 371-7217 or visit www.amozartfest.org.

The Austin Chamber Music Center presents Mozart Madness Friday and Saturday, Jan. 27 and 28, 7:30pm, at a private residence and Sunday, Jan. 29, 4pm, at First Unitarian Universalist Church, 4700 Grover. For more information, call 454-0026 or visit www.austinchambermusic.org.

The Austin Symphony will perform works by Mozart and Chopin Friday and Saturday, Feb. 3 and 4, 8pm, at Bass Concert Hall. For more information, call 476-6064 or visit www.austinsymphony.org.