Mozart à la Say

Mozart à la Say is a celebration of Mozart. The internationally renowned Turkish pianist and composer Fazıl Say, a great admirer of the old master, puts his own spin on Mozart’s music. Parts of Mozart’s Serenade, a Fantasy and Say’s piano works together form a Mozart-Say suite. The simultaneously wistful and hopeful The Messenger by Ukrainian composer Sylvestrov is also a tribute to Mozart. The messenger from the title expresses himself in flowing Mozart-like music that sounds as if coming from some other dimension in time.

In Schnittke’s Moz-Art à la Haydn, ghosts of Mozart and Haydn make their appearance. They play an eerie but ironic duel with snatches of classical music. The closing piece Yürüyen Köşk (The Moving Mansion) by Fazıl Say is an ode to Turkish folk hero Atatürk. Originally written for piano quintet, it is now powerfully performed by a full string orchestra.