Peggy Stortz Mozart's Birthday Bash Mozart may well be the best loved classical composer the world has ever known. A child prodigy and musical genius beyond compare, he composed more than 600 w o r k s including operas, concertos and sacred music, although he died just a few weeks short of his 36th birthday. 2006 marks the 2 5 0 t h anniversary o f M o z a r t ' s birth. A l l over the w o r l d , there w i l l be celebrations of M o z a r t ' s life and music. Here on the N o r t h Shore, the Silk Purse is offering a " M a g n i f i c e n t M o z a r t Festival" throughout the months o f January and February. The series will include a variety o f concerts and lectures about Mozart's life and w o r k s . There w i l l also be a premiere of a little k n o w n opera by M o z a r t called The Impresario. Here's the l i n e - u p : The Life & Times of Mozart - Tuesday, January 17 U B C instructor and pianist Karen-Lee M o r l a n g presents an overview of M o z a r t ' s life and perform several of his piano solos. Mozart in Italy - Thursday, January 19 Flautist Stefano M a f f i z o n e of M i l a n and U B C professor and pianist Eugene S k o v o r o d n i k o v perform a selection of works influenced by M o z a r t ' s visits to Italy between 1770 and 1773. Mozart in Opera - Tuesday, January 24 The U B C Opera Ensemble and pianist Karen LeeM o r l a n g perform arias and excerpts from the very popular opera Le Nozze di Figaro written in 1786. It is the earliest of M o z a r t ' s masterpieces. Mozart in Germany - Thursday, January 26 Vancouver School of M u s i c teacher, W i n i f r e d R o m p f and Dorothy Utengsu present a concert of M o z a r t ' s piano duets. Mozart in Opera (continued) - Friday, January 27 Members from the Vancouver O p e r a chorus sing arias and excerpts from the famous opera Dun Giovanni. Pegasus the Flying Horse - Saturday, January 28 For the young audience, the Puppets Purple Theatre Company presents the legend of Pegasus, the flying liorse, with magnificent M o z a r t arias. Mozart in Austria - Tuesday, January 31 Vancouver Opera Orchestra violinist Evelyn Creaser and Toronto pianist D o u g Balfour perform a concert of Mozart and Schubert violin pieces. www.arts-alive.ca (Clockwise from left): UBC professor and pianist Eugene Skovorodnikov; DJ Calhoun: Soprano, Michelle Keobke WHAT: Magnificent Mozart Festival WHEN: Jan/Feb. All concerts @ 10:30 except for the Friday night performances @ 7:30pm on January 27th (Mozart's actual birthday) and February 17th. WHERE: Silk Purse Gallery in West Vancouver TICKETS: $10 or $100 for a series pass of twelve concerts excluding the children's puppet show, 604.925.7292. Mozart in London - Thursday, February 2 Lyric soprano M a r l e n e Boeltz-Nagata, and pianist, Katherine H u m e present a program of vocal w o r k s highlighting M o z a r t ' s technical skill in composition as well as his imagination Mozart in Prague - Tuesday, February 7 Soprano, M i c h e l l e Keobke, baritone, D J C a l h o u n and pianist Karen L e e - M o r l a n g perform several of M o z a r t ' s most celebrated songs including Bella Mia Fiannna. Mozart in Paris - Thursday, February 9 Flautists M i r a n d a C l i n g w a l l and G l o r i a H u h , along with pianist Karen L e e - M o r l a n g perform M o z a r t ' s Concerto for Flute and Harp. Mozart and Friends - Tuesday, February 14 K a r e n L e e - M o r l a n g returns for an enlightening discussion and performance of the w o r k s of contemporaries of M o z a r t , including Salieri, H a y d n and Beethoven. Mozart in Russia -Thursday, February 16 Pianist Eugene S k o v o r o d n i k o v performs a selection of music from M o z a r t ' s operas. The Impresario Friday, February 17 Members of the N o r t h Shore Light Opera perform music from M o z a r t ' s comedic opera written while he was still in his teens. This delightful romp is a look at M o z a r t ' s earl) genius.