ZDF/Arte

The Mozart-Session

Three musicians – one composer! Three befriended musicians meet: Anna Prohaska (soprano), Andreas Ottensamer (clarinet) and Caspar Frantz (piano). They talk about and discuss Mozart issues and they perform together with the Kammerakademie Potsdam on a high standard.

No show, no lighting effects, not even a presenter are between the musicians and their audience. The “Mozart Session” relies completely on the power of music and the personalities of the musicians. The audience can experience a genuine conversation between quite contrasting friends who inspire and challenge each other talking about their quite personal relationship to Mozart.

Apart from the great hits and well-known arias, the “Session” is also set out to discover the more unknown Mozart. As for instance in the concert aria for soprano, piano and orchestra which is seldom performed and where the musicians can gain a deep insight into Mozart’s soul. Between their performances the three internationally renowned musicians discuss the issue of how near simplicity and complexity in Mozart’s music lie and how important it is not to place Mozart on a pedestal. And they dwell on the matter of how difficult it is to live up to his genius and that often one would feel as though “in underclothes” in front of an audience. Confessions after which the so frequently heard clarinet concerto creeps even more under the skin.

What is it that makes Mozart’s music so compelling? Where can we discover the more tangible sides of his personality? And what does Mozart’s music have in common with our bread consumption? In Berlin’s venue “Säälchen auf dem Holzmarkt25” both, music and bread, are served, and that in fact on a bar counter. And so the audience, the orchestra and the soloists experience a limitless Mozart evening in the relaxed atmosphere of a modern lounge.