Mozart's sounds were a bridge connecting people and cultures, near and far • One heavenly evening in Haifa – much more than a concert

(live here) – An unparalleled spectacular concert took place last Saturday night, March 15, 2025, and attracted the attention of Haifa music lovers, thanks to its unique quality and meticulous production. It should also be noted that the audience was able to enjoy the concert without being required to pay anything - indeed, a fine concert, entirely free.

In light of the extraordinary demand, the concert location was moved from the 'Interval Studio' in the Rotenberg House to the concert hall at the Hecht Museum, and even before it ended, it was already crowned a great and exciting success.

The evening was entirely dedicated to the masterful works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The audience enjoyed the excellent performances of musicians from Russia, who arrived in Israel only two years ago. For many in the audience, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to listen to artists of an international level, while at the same time being exposed to the personal stories of the musicians, who shared their experiences that touched the hearts of the audience, and the struggle they had to overcome in order to succeed and start a new chapter in their lives, in Israel.

The concert was much more than an evening of music – it was a bridge between cultures, a powerful and moving connection between Mozart's sublime music and courageous musicians who bring their personal, human stories to each piece.

Piano Quartet K. 478 – Love, Genius and Tragedy: The Quartet Born from Mozart's Great Passion for Music
In 1785, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, one of the greatest composers of all time, was commissioned by the publisher Franz Anton Hofmeister to compose three piano quartets. One instrument in the ensemble—the viola—was particularly close to his heart, as he had played it himself in chamber performances. But even his sublime works were not immune to difficulties. After completing the first quartet in G minor, Hofmeister decided to cancel the commission, arguing that the works were too complex for amateur musicians in Vienna and that they would not be commercially successful.

However, Mozart, with his courage and sense of purpose, did not give up. He turned to the publisher Arteria & Co., but fate did not favor him – only one more work was written and completed. It is ironic to think that works that were initially considered failures have over the years become milestones in the world of chamber music. Not only that, but their influence is evident in the works of the giants of the composers – Robert Schumann, Johannes Brahms, Antonin Dvořák and Leo Delibes.

Piano Quartet K. 478 Opens with a dramatic and sweeping opening, which leads to a more subtle theme.

But instead of providing stability and adhering to predictable patterns, Mozart sweeps the listener on a harmonic journey full of surprises, where every sound and every transition weaves an exciting and multi-layered listening experience.
The softer, more intimate and relaxed Andante movement pours serenity over the piece—only to crack at the climax. In the final movement, the Rondo, Mozart draws inspiration from Haydn and bursts into a joyful, liberated tone, bringing the piece to a close with increasing enthusiasm and leaving the audience thrilled.

Five months before Mozart completed the quartet, Johann Haydn, the music master of his time, spoke his immortal words to Leopold Mozart: "In the presence of God and as an honest man I tell you – your son is the greatest composer I have known, both personally and by name. He has taste, and above all – he has the deepest knowledge of composition."
Haydn, who left a deep mark on Mozart, not only influenced him but also found inspiration in his sounds. This quartet is not just a musical work – it is a resonant encounter between genius and tragedy, between creativity that breaks boundaries and a reality that sometimes robbed it of its wings.

Piano Concerto No. 23 in B-flat major (K. 488) – virtuosity between profound simplicity and rich symphonic structure
Piano Concerto No. 23 in B major (K. 488) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, written in 1786, is one of the most impressive works in the piano concerto repertoire. This work unites intense emotion with a tight structure in a rare musical texture, and serves as living testimony to Mozart's unique language—one that touches hearts and reveals a world of intimate and profound experiences.
The uniqueness of the concerto is expressed in the wonderful fusion between intimate moments of tenderness and complex musical challenges, which shed light on Mozart's extraordinary ability to weave a harmonious connection between essential simplicity and symphonic richness.
In the selected performance, the work was presented in an unusual approach—not in the traditional format of piano and orchestra, but in an intimate chamber arrangement for piano and string quintet, which gave it a new and fresh tone.

This move not only captivates the heart, but also brings the music closer to the audience in an intimate and moving way. Each instrument, each player, is able to highlight its unique quality, and the new arrangement clearly and movingly reveals the different layers of the work. The piano, which in this version takes center stage, transmits the inner power of the music, while the violin and the quintet add rich and complex tones, which provide depth and richness to the overall atmosphere, making the experience exciting and stimulating.

The concerto is divided into three movements: the first, "Andante", offers dynamic movements that feel like a kind of quiet and moving conversation, crafted with sensitivity and meticulousness. The second movement, "Adagio", is the most famous – a chapter full of melodic sounds that move the heart, and magically manages to lead the listener into a world of endless sensations and emotions. The third chapter, "Rondo", offers a light and graceful ending, which simplifies the emotional complexity and leads the listener on an uplifting and vital musical journey, leaving a feeling of transcendence and pleasure.

In this limited version, Mozart's music breaks boundaries and reaches straight to the heart, emphasizing the intimacy and emotional precision of each player. The encounter of classical music with the warm, personal atmosphere creates an unparalleled musical experience, inviting listeners to discover the depth and beauty of a contemporary classical work.

The concert that took place in Haifa was no longer a musical performance – but became an exciting story of a new beginning, of creativity, culture and hope. Without a doubt, this evening positioned Haifa as a cultural center, as a city where almost anything can begin anew.

'Studio Interval', which financed and brought this evening to the wonderful event it was, invested out of a sincere desire to give the local audience the unique opportunity to be exposed to high-level artists, and above all – to get to know the people behind the sounds.

These are musicians who each have a personal and unique life story, who have gone through a long and complex path to arrive in Israel. Each of them brings with them not only their musical skills, but also their special and touching story, the path that led them here, to this encounter with the Israeli audience.