Heavenly Mozart - our second album

Our second album, Heavenly Mozart. Available on CD, and for digital download and streaming.

New CD Offers Refreshing, Sublime Mozart

The Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra reinvigorates two of Mozart’s best-known works in its brand-new recording Heavenly Mozart with conductor Rachael Beesley and fortepiano soloist Neal Peres Da Costa, releasing 10 November, 2023 for digital download or streaming via ABC Classic, and on CD on the ARCO label for AUD$25.

They’re two of Mozart’s most familiar works – the sublime ‘Jupiter’ Symphony No.41 and Piano Concerto No.23. But in Heavenly Mozart the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra re-illuminates this beloved music with a dynamic, historically informed performance that’s closer than ever to how Mozart himself heard it.

Enjoy this preview track!

Conducted by Rachael Beesley and featuring eminent soloist Neal Peres Da Costa playing a newly commissioned fortepiano, the orchestra’s second CD and first studio recording offers a fresh and distinctive interpretation of the composer’s massive final symphony and popular piano concerto. Based on their new scholarly research into 19th-century piano performance, early recordings and theatrical movement, the recording – available in both physical and digital formats – adds exciting discoveries to the international field of Mozart performance practice.

“As an orchestra, we find creative inspiration in exploring new research materials and methods, from acting expressions, gestures, and declamation to gaining greater insight and inspiration into the performance practices of the time through early historical recordings.” says co-artistic director and conductor Rachael Beesley.

Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra, cond. Rachael Beesley with Neal Peres Da Costa, fortepiano. Photo: Robert Catto

HIP STYLE & RAVE REVIEWS

The Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra, which recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, is Australia’s leading ensemble playing 18th- and 19th-century music in historically informed performance (HIP) style. Heavenly Mozart reflects this with Classical-era techniques and instruments, including a new Viennese-action fortepiano by Paul McNulty (Czech Republic), modelled after a c.1805 instrument by Anton Walter & Sohn, and acquired by the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Informed by historical practices, the performance is flowing and expressive, transcending the notes on the page like a sweeping, starry night sky.

The recording, made at All Saints Church, Hunters Hill in Sydney, NSW, followed highly successful performances of both works during the orchestra’s six-concert national ‘Tempestuous Skies’ tour in August 2022.

From the tour reviews:

  • “…wonderful playing, so thoughtful and so free…” – Andrew Ford, composer and broadcaster

  • “Neal Peres Da Costa played this new fortepiano lovingly and sensitively, complementing the orchestra’s rich, mellow sound like Viennese chocolate.” – ClassikON

  • “From the peremptory opening…until the last notes, this was a masterful rendition.” – Limelight

NEW RESEARCH & EXPRESSION

But while Heavenly Mozart offers delight for Mozart lovers, it also adds exciting discoveries to the international field of Mozart performance practice. The recording of the Piano Concerto No.23 is part of the Mozart K.488 Project, a multi-year research endeavour co-designed by ARCO and Da Costa, Associate Dean of Research and Professor of Period Performance at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Rooted in the performance practice of both the 19th century and Mozart’s own time (including piano roll recordings by 19th-century German pianist and Mozart exponent Carl Reinecke), the CD offers flexible, expressive playing that goes beyond traditional score-bound Mozart performances.

Fortepiano soloist Neal Peres Da Costa. Photo: Robert Catto

“This CD is a wonderful addition to any collection, whether academic or popular,” sums up Nicole van Bruggen, ARCO’s co-artistic director.

Heavenly Mozart is available as a digital release (ABC Classic) and on CD (ARCO).

TRACKLISTING

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)

Piano Concerto No.23 in A major, K.488
1. Allegro
2. [Improvised interlude] – Adagio
3. Allegro assai

Symphony No.41 in C major, K.551 (Jupiter)
4. Allegro vivace
5. Andante cantabile
6. Menuetto (Allegretto) – Trio
7. Molto allegro

Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra
Rachael Beesley | conductor
Neal Peres Da Costa | fortepiano

Heavenly Mozart is available on a physical CD and as high-resolution download.
Available 10 November 2023