The Mozart Problem

Next year will be the 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birth, and yes, the orchestras of the world are well aware, and will shortly be inundating you with more Mozart than you can shake a baton at. But during most seasons, Mozart is rarely heard in the concert halls of major orchestras, and increasingly, his work is restricted to specialized festivals. Part of the problem, of course, is that historically informed performance is now the rule, and most symphony orchestras are loath to have half their musicians sit out for a week just so they can play some Mozart, but there’s a larger issue hanging over the dearth of Wolfgang. “Artur Rubinstein’s comment that Mozart is too simple for children and too difficult for adults is relevant here.”