Mozart mixes seamlessly with summer
What goes perfectly with the sounds of children playing, birds singing and the Duncan Garden fountain burbling?
Mozart, of course. Connoisseur Concerts’ annual “Mozart on a Summer’s Eve” concert at Manito Park served Mozart and nothing but Mozart in a beautiful and serene garden setting. I found it hard to find a flaw in an evening that combined a sunset, the stars and the Serenade in C minor. And the good news is, they’ll repeat the entire concert tonight.
The setting is indeed an important part of this summer cultural institution’s appeal. A stroll through the formal Duncan Garden sets the perfect European tone for the evening. Half the audience is seated at white-clothed tables, sipping coffee and nibbling on dessert. The other half is more informally spread out on blankets and in lawn chairs behind the tables. Some budget-minded folks were even enjoying the show for free, from beyond the ropes, although I should warn you that the ensemble’s sound doesn’t project the way a full orchestra does.
However, they produced a prodigious amount of music. Director Verne Windham set up the first part of the program as a series of showcases for individual instruments. Bethany Schoeff soloed in an impeccable Oboe Quartet in F; James Schoepflin was featured in the slow and tender Clarinet Quintet in A; and Roger Logan and Windham shared the solo duties in the jaunty Horn Quintet in E flat.
“We split the part in two, in the great tradition of feather-bedding for which horns are known,” said Windham.
Featured vocalists Heather Parker and Derrick Parker are jaw-droppingly talented and also proved to be great crowd-pleasers. In a series of arias from “The Marriage of Figaro,” Derrick Parker demonstrated a natural stage presence as he moved, in character, across the grass in front of the small bandstand. Even more impressive was his rich, deep bass-baritone. It was easy to see why he is in demand from Glimmerglass to Wolf Trap to the Houston Grand Opera.
Heather Parker was equally impressive in her series of arias with her beautiful, controlled soprano. Best of all were the two duets the Parkers performed: Bei Mannern from “The Magic Flute” and La ci darem la mano from “Don Giovanni.” Their voices blended seamlessly and they had an obvious chemistry – which is only natural, because they are husband and wife.
The concert closed with the four-movement Serenade in C minor, which Windham called Mozart at his most abstract and sensual. It was also, at times, Mozart at his most rollicking and fun-loving. As Windham said, “We’re here to celebrate Mozart, but I’d like to suggest that Mozart is here to celebrate us.”
By that, he meant Mozart had a knack for tapping into the joy of humanity and of life. All I can say is, life does have a way of seeming close to perfect on a July night in Manito with a Mozart soundtrack.
“Mozart on a Summer’s Eve” continues tonight at 7. Call 325-SEAT or 1-800-325-SEAT for tickets, or go to www.ticketswest.com.