Chamber Orchestra

About the Program

Program notes by Mark Bilyeu

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony No. 35 in D Major, K. 385, Haffner
Born January 27, 1756 in Salzburg, Austria
Died December 5, 1791 in Vienna, Austria
Composed July-August 1782
Premiered March 23, 1783, Vienna Austria
Duration 20 minutes

In 1782, a 26 year old Mozart was frantically working to create a new arrangement of his hit opera The Abduction from the Seraglio when he received a letter from his father. In it, Leopold Mozart requested that his son write a full symphony for their wealthy friend, Sigmund Haffner, whose son was soon to receive a title of nobility. Mozart had previously written an eight-movement work for the same family as part of the wedding festivities of Haffner’s daughter, and so, Mozart had no choice but to agree. He replied to his father "Well, I am up to my eyes in work, for by Sunday week I have to arrange my opera for wind instruments . . . And now you ask me to write a new symphony!  How on earth can I do so? . . . Well, I must just spend the night over it, for that is the only way; and to you, dearest father, I sacrifice it.  You may rely on having something from me by every post.  I shall work as fast as possible and, as far as haste permits, I shall turn out good work.” Mozart’s relationship with his father was fraught, and it was no more evident than during this period. As Mozart sent movements to his father one-by-one, he pleaded with his father to approve of his upcoming marriage to his fiancee Constanze, but was only met with silence. In a letter dated July 27, he wrote "You will be disappointed to see only the first Allegro…On the 31st, I will send you the two minuets, the andante, and the last movement, and, if possible, a march. I wrote in D because you prefer that key. My dear kind father, I do implore you, by all you hold dear in the world, to give me your consent to my marrying my beloved Constanze...” The final movement to arrive, a march, was posted on August 7, but did not arrive in time for Haffner’s ennoblement ceremony. When Mozart wrote to his father, asking for the score to be sent back to him for an upcoming concert, it took more than three months for the elder Mozart to reply. When it finally did, Mozart (now a married man) wrote in his diary "My new Haffner symphony has positively amazed me, for I had forgotten every single note of it. It must surely produce a good effect.”

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About the Artists

Farkhad Khudyev

Farkhad Khudyev is the winner of the Gold Medal “Beethoven 250” at the 1st International Arthur Nikisch Conducting Competition; the Solti Foundation US 2018 and 2022 Career Assistance Award; the Best Interpretation Prize at the 1st International Taipei Conducting Competition; the 3rd prize at the 8th International Sir Georg Solti Conducting Competition; and the Gold Medal/Grand Prize at the 2007 National Fischoff Competition. Khudyev has worked with orchestras worldwide including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, Frankfurt Opera Orchestra, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Diego Symphony, Monterey Symphony, George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra, Xi’an Symphony Orchestra and the State Taipei Chinese Orchestra. Farkhad was born in Turkmenistan, where he studied at the State Music School for gifted musicians, and then completed his studies at Interlochen Arts Academy, Oberlin Conservatory and Yale University. Khudyev serves as the Music Director of the University of Texas Symphony Orchestra in Austin, and the Orchestral Institute at the Hidden Valley Institute of the Arts in Carmel, California.

Matthew Pavon

Matthew Pavon is a conductor and violist studying orchestral vonducting under Farkhad Khudyev at The Butler School of Music. In his role as assistant instructor for university orchestras, Matthew is an active conductor and administrator for Symphony Orchestra. He also serves as Co-Director for University Orchestra. Matthew holds viola performance degrees from Evangel University (B.M. '19) and Missouri State University (M.M. '22). Guest conducting appearances have included concerts with the Austin Civic, Kansas City Civic, Missouri State University Symphony, Drury University, and Kansas City Youth Symphony, and Missouri Philharmonic Orchestras. As a violist, he was an active member of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra for seven years and a substitute violist for the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas. Matthew’s passion is connecting with people of all ages and backgrounds through music. He lives in Austin, TX, with his wife, Leianna, and their two mini-Australian Shepherds, Koda and Ellie.

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Chamber Orchestra

Principals
1. Mozart
2. Haydn

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Upcoming Events

Mahler Symphony No. 2, Resurrection
Symphony Orchestra & Combined Choirs
Leah Crocetto, soprano 
Sophio Dzidziguri, mezzo soprano

One of the most beloved symphonies in the canon, Mahler's "Resurrection" symphony boasts a large orchestra, mezzo and soprano soloists, and similarly to Beethoven's 9th Symphony, a large choir in the final movement. For this performance, the Butler School's Concert Chorale and University Chorus ensembles will join forces; they will be joined by Butler School alumni singers and community choral singers from around Austin.

Tuesday, March 31, 8:00 p.m.
Long Center for the Performing Arts

Tickets

UNIVERSITY ORCHESTRA
Tuesday, October 7, 7:30 p.m.
Bates Recital Hall

SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Wednesday, October 15, 7:30 p.m.
Bates Recital Hall 

SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Saturday, November 8, 7:30 p.m.
Bates Recital Hall

UNIVERSITY ORCHESTRA
Tuesday, November 18, 7:30 p.m.
Bates Rectial Hall