Entering its seventeenth season, A. Mozart Fest continues to establish Austin as "the Mozart Capital of Texas," presenting some of the most respected Mozart performers in the world and leading Austin Mozart performers. This year, two world-renowned artists-Viennese pianist Paul Badura-Skoda, and American pianist William Doppmann will return to Austin to perform on the Mozart-centered series. Leading Austin Mozart performers will also perform, including pianists Anton Nel and Mary Robbins, soprano Janeene Williams and the A. Mozart Fest Chamber Orchestra.

World-renowned Austrian pianist Paul Badura-Skoda, often credited as the world's leading Mozart pianist, will perform a solo piano concert on Sunday, November 18, 2007 at 3:00 PM, also at the First Baptist Church of Austin. Maestro Badura-Skoda will perform music of Bach, Mozart, and Chopin. He will share insights into the works before he performs. Before his appearance in Austin, Badura-Skoda will have already in 2007 had major concert tours in Japan, South America, Australia and North America. 2007 marks his 80th birthday, and over 55 years of a vigorous and highly acclaimed concertizing career. This concert will be the first of two AMF Distinguished Artist Concerts in the 07-08 season featuring legendary guest artists.

The annual Mozart Birthday Concert featuring Mozart concertos with orchestra on Sunday, January 27, 2008 at 3:00 PM, completes A. Mozart Fest's live performances of all of Mozart's more than twenty solo piano concertos since the concerts began in 1991. This comprehensive performance project is a rare treat for Austin audiences-and a first for the history of Austin!

Soloists for the January 27th Mozart Birthday Concert will be acclaimed pianist Anton Nel and celebrated soprano Janeene Williams. Pianist Nel, a favorite of Austin audiences, will perform Mozart's Piano Concerto K.238 in B-Flat Major, and the Piano Concerto K.451 in D Major with the A. Mozart Fest Chamber Orchestra. In addition, Nel will perform with soprano Williams and the AMF Chamber Orchestra Mozart's Concert Aria K.505, "Ch'io mi scordi di te"- "Non temer, amato bene".

The second Distinguished Artist Concert of the AMF season, on Sunday, April 27, 2008 at 3:00 PM at the First Baptist Church of Austin sanctuary, features legendary Amercian pianist William Doppmann. Since the beginning of his career, when he won the Naumberg Competition at age 19, Doppmann has commanded praise of the highest order. Austin audiences, stunned by his riveting performance two seasons ago, adamantly requested his return. His unusually compelling and incisive performances are renowned for playing of extraordinary clarity, grasp and depth. The Washington Post wrote: "Once in a great while there comes an artist whose performance defies description or superlatives, and who by choice of a program and means of execution creates the aura of pure music. Just such an event took place yesterday afternoon at the Phillips Gallery. The man's name is William Doppmann. He is a pianist giant." Doppmann's concert will include Mozart's Adagio in B Minor, K.540, the Liszt Sonata for Piano and Schubert's Sonata in B-Flat.

We are excited to have our first A. Mozart Fest concert in the new Rollins Studio Theatre of the Long Center for the Performing Arts in June! On June 19 and June 20th, Mary Robbins will perform an all-Mozart solo program in the Rollins Hall of the Long Center; both performances will be at 7:30 PM. The program features works that express Mozart's most personal emotions--from deep sorrow to playful glee--, and includes Mozart's Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major, K. 282, the Rondo in A Minor, K.511, the Sonata in A Minor, K.330, and the Sonata in B-Flat Major, K.570.

In addition to the above concerts, the A. Mozart Fest season will include a Benefactors' Bellissimo featuring a "Schubertiad," a special lecture and performance on Schubert by distinguished musicologist Dr. Hanns-Bertold Dietz with noted pianists Marlee Dietz and Mary Robbins and David Small, a distinguished baritone. The all-Schubert performance includes his Sonata in C Minor and the F Minor Fantasy for Piano Four-hands. This event is free for AMF supporters at the Benefactor and above levels, with a reception following the lecture and performance.

The A. Mozart Fest season also includes the AMF's Armstrong Kidzkonzerts, a series of concerts for children performed by the same world-class artists who perform the concerts listed above. The Kidzkonzerts feature a streamlined presentation of the music from the season concerts with introductory commentary specifically designed for the ages of the children attending. Reservations are required, and curriculum guides are sent to teachers when reservations are made, to prepare the students before the performances. AMF Armstrong Kidzkonzerts are free for students and accompanying teachers. Contact Carolyn Gregory by email or phone at 512-461-7022 for information.

A special thank you to all our AMF Members! Simply put, your membership helps bring the world's leading Mozart performers and scholars to Austin for our concerts, and also to perform for over a thousand children in our Kidzkonzerts --free of charge. Click on the "Join AMF" button above to get instructions on how to become one of our valuable AMF Members, and also garner invitations to convivial events and a highlight concert at the home of Susan Overbey for AMF Benefactor and above Members only!

We look forward to continuing our incredible journey of joy through Mozart's music with you this season!

Mary Robbins
Artistic Director
A. Mozart Fest