ORT Concert of Viennese Court Composers Conducted by James Conlon

The 44th concert season of the Orchestra della Toscana will present a special performance conducted by James Conlon on Thursday, November 7 at 9 pm in Teatro Verdi. The evening begins with pieces from Act II of Orpheus and Eurydice by Christoph Willibald Gluck, and the program also features two of the most famous symphonies of the 18th century: Mozart’s Symphony No. 40, K.550, and Haydn’s Symphony No. 103, “Drumroll.” 

James Conlon is an American conductor, highly respected and recognized for his symphonic repertoire, having conducted all major European and American orchestras (including the Metropolitan Opera and New York Philharmonic, where he made his debut). He has been touring worldwide for some time, and this November he is returning to Florence to lead the Orchestra della Toscana. 

Conlon is bringing the Viennese spirit to Florence, presenting works by renowned Austrian classical composers. Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in G minor, K.550 is known for its emotional depth, as it is thought to represent the composer’s inner struggles and turbulences. In contrast, Haydn’s Symphony, composed in 1795 during his visit to London, is considered a classical masterpiece that takes about 30 minutes to perform. This symphony, Haydn’s second-to-last, premiered as part of the Opera Concerts series at the King’s Theatre. Unusual for that time, the orchestra was exceptionally large, consisting of about 60 players. The composer influenced other great artists of this era, including Ludwig van Beethoven and Joseph Bologne.

Tickets are priced as follows: full price: €22; reduced: €18 (+€2 if purchased in advance); under 30: €10; and for students: €5 (if purchased at the ticket window). The tickets can also be purchased on the website https://www.orchestradellatoscana.it/en/eventi/conlon-firenze-7nov2024-eng/ (Paulina Juzak)