Czech Philharmonic ⬩ Variations

The kind of serenade that you will hear tonight enjoyed great popularity during the classical era. The chamber instrumentation, the light character, and the pleasant melody were well-suited for outdoor performances or celebrations of important events. At the same time, however, with this form of serenade composers did not try to create a grand work of art nor did they place too great a demand on the listener. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) composed his Serenade in E-flat Major on the occasion of the Feast of Saint Theresa. Many listeners may be unfamiliar with Carl Reinecke (1824–1910), a composer who was also active as a conductor and pianist. Reinecke worked with Leipzig’s Gewandhaus Orchestra and was a much sought-after teacher whose students included Leoš Janáček and Edvard Grieg, among others.