Franz Welser-Möst conducts Mozart and Strauss — With Leif Ove Andsnes and Dorothea Röschmann

Piano virtuoso Leiv Ove Andsnes and the renowned Cleveland Orchestra celebrate Mozart at the 2006 Carnegie Hall season opener!

The opening of the season at Carnegie Hall, one of the most prestigious concert halls in the world, is always one of the musical events of the year! A different orchestra is chosen each year and the concert is a showcase for the world-class talents who bring the event to life.

In 2006, the lucky winner was the Cleveland Orchestra conducted by the Austrian conductor Franz Welser-Möst who has been its musical director since 2002 (his contract has been extended until 2018). The programme was festive, as befits such an event: polkas and waltzes by Johann Strauss the younger preceded and followed the Concerto No. 17, K453, composed when the Mozart was 28 years old, performed by Norwegian pianist Leiv Ove Andsnes, who is familiar with this piece which he has recorded. He combined natural ease and mastery with great sensitivity (the andante).

The German soprano Dorothea Röschmann replaced that evening at the last minute the baritone Thomas Quasthoff, who was suffering from an inflammation of the vocal chords. Used to the "classic" repertoire (she sings in many festivals of ancient music, namely with René Jacobs), she brilliantly sang airs by Mozart before an enchanted audience.