The annual gathering of concertmasters from the nation's top orchestras, North America's largest Mozart festival opens with newly discovered work by Mozart

SAN DIEDO, CA, February 11, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival returns to San Diego June 18 to June 28, 2025. The annual summer festival is a highlight of the classical music calendar and the country's largest gathering of concertmasters and principal players from the nation's top orchestras. Under the baton of Maestro Michael Francis, who returns for his 11th year as Music Director and conductor, the 2025 festival features six, unique performances at two venues, The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center and the UC San Diego Epstein Family Amphitheater. The festival, the largest Mozart celebration in North America, opens with a must-hear performance of Mozart's newly discovered Serenade in C Major.

"We are thrilled to announce the return of the All-Star Orchestra Festival, the largest Mozart festival in North America," Nancy Laturno, Founding CEO, Mainly Mozart. "To celebrate, we will open the festival with Mozart's newly discovered Serenade in C, written when he was just 10-13 years old. The remarkable discovery, made last September in a German library, has captivated Mozart fans worldwide. We're excited to give San Diegans the opportunity to experience a remarkable chapter of Mozart's early genius brought to life."

Beyond Mozart's work, and the reason for the "mainly" in Mainly Mozart, the orchestra performs pieces from other leading classical composers. This year's concerts include works by Strauss, Bach, Beethoven, Saint-Saëns, Mendelssohn and Vivaldi, among others.

"This year's program celebrates the virtuosity of our musicians and presents orchestral works on the grandest scale," said Maestro Michael Francis. "Audiences will experience some of Baroque's most virtuosic symphonies through the Brandenberg concertos, marvel in the expressive power of Beethoven's symphonic masterpieces, and enjoy an intimate chamber experience through the newly discovered Mozart Serenade in C and Ignaz von Seyfried's arrangement of Mozart's F Minor Fantasy. The tremendous talent of our orchestral and international soloists takes center stage during Saint-Saëns's Piano Concerto No. 2, Strauss's Duet Concertino, A Klezmer Concerto and Beethoven's Triple Concerto."

The All-Star Orchestra musicians represent top U.S and Canadian orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Atlanta Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Dallas Symphony, Toronto Symphony, San Francisco Symphony and The Philadelphia Orchestra. Last year's orchestra roster included musicians from 30 top orchestras. The full orchestra roster for 2025 will be released in May.

At The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center in La Jolla, each concert will be preceded by new Mozart-themed pre-concert talks or mini-concerts at 6pm in The JAI, which will be included in the base ticket price. At the UC San Diego Epstein Family Amphitheater, attendees will now be able to bring in their own food and (non-alcoholic) beverages. Guests are also welcome to bring their own picnic spreads, with new grass-seating areas, and picnic music provided by Mainly Mozart Youth Orchestra ensembles throughout the venue.

2025 Soloists
Soloists for the 2025 festival include Clarinetist Boris Allakhverdyan and Bassoonist Whitney Crockett who will perform Richard Strauss's Duet Concertino on June 20. Pianist Joyce Yang will bring her artistry to Saint-Saëns's Piano Concerto No. 2 on June 21 and Beethoven's Triple Concerto on June 28, where she will join Violinist Noah Bendix-Balgley and Cellist Robert DeMaine. Bendix-Balgely will also perform his Klezmer Concerto on June 26.
2025 Mainly Mozart All-Star Festival Program

Opening Night: New Mozart Work: Serenade in C Major; The Four Seasons
Wednesday, June 18, 2025 | The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center | 7:00 PM

This year's festival opens with a must-hear performance of Mozart's newly discovered Serenade in C Major. Found in a German library in Sept. 2024, this 250-year-old string trio—nicknamed "Ganz kleine Nachtmusik" or "A Very Little Night Music"—showcases a 10-13 year old Mozart's remarkable talent and early mastery of musical form. Following this historic gem, the program continues with a melding of Vivaldi's beloved The Four Seasons, a vivid celebration of nature's changing moods, filled with virtuosic energy and timeless beauty and Piazzolla's The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, an electrifying and tango-infused homage to Vivaldi's masterpiece that bridges the gap between Baroque elegance and modern passion. Performed together, these works promise an unforgettable musical journey across centuries and continents, with each of the eight solo parts performed by a concertmaster of a major US orchestra, including Philadelphia Orchestra Concertmaster David Kim, National Symphony Concertmaster Nurit-Bar Josef, and San Diego Symphony Concertmaster Jeff Thayer.

Program:
MOZART: Serenade in C Major
VIVALDI: The Four Seasons
PIAZZOLLA: The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires

Beethoven, Mozart, and Strauss
Friday, June 20, 2025 | The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center | 7:00 PM

The concert begins with Mozart's sparkling Serenade No. 6 (Serenata Notturna), a delightful showcase of elegance and wit, then delves into Richard Strauss's lyrical and introspective Duet Concertino, featuring clarinetist Boris Allakhverdyan and bassoonist Whitney Crockett. The night crescendos with Beethoven's Symphony No. 2, a vibrant work brimming with youthful energy and humor, marking one of the composer's early symphonic triumphs.

Program:
MOZART: Serenade No. 6 K. 239 in D Major (Serenata Notturna)
STRAUSS: Duet Concertino for Clarinet and Bassoon*
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 2 op. 36 in D Major
*Soloists: Boris Allakhverdyan (clarinet), Whitney Crockett (bassoon)

Mozart, Elgar, and Saint-Saëns
Saturday, June 21 | UC San Diego Epstein Family Amphitheater | 7:00 PM
Guests may bring food and drink (non-alcoholic) into the venue. Food and drink will be available to purchase inside the venue.

This outdoor concert under the stars at the Epstein Family Amphitheater blends brilliance and intensity, beginning with Elgar's Introduction and Allegro, a thrilling interplay between string quartet and orchestra. Mozart's deeply expressive Symphony No. 40 follows, a masterpiece filled with drama and poignancy. Pianist Joyce Yang concludes the program with Saint-Saëns's Piano Concerto No. 2, a virtuosic tour de force that balances lyrical beauty with dazzling keyboard fireworks.

Program:
ELGAR: Introduction and Allegro
MOZART: Symphony No. 40 K. 550 in G minor
SAINT-SAËNS: Piano Concerto No. 2 op. 22 in G minor*
*Soloist: Joyce Yang (piano)

Baroque Brilliance
Tuesday, June 24 | The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center | 7:00 PM

Celebrate the vitality of the Baroque era with Stravinsky's Concerto in E-flat (Dumbarton Oaks), a neoclassical homage bursting with charm and precision. The evening continues with Bach's masterful Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 2 and 5, showcasing the inventiveness and brilliance of Baroque instrumentation. Concluding the night is Mozart's Haffner Symphony, an exuberant work radiating energy and elegance.

Program:
STRAVINSKY: Concerto in E-flat (Dumbarton Oaks)
BACH: Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 BWV 1047 in F Major
BACH: Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 BWV 1050 in D Major
MOZART: Symphony No. 35 K. 385 in D Major (Haffner Symphony)

Mozart, Mendelssohn, and Klezmer
Thursday, June 26 | The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center | 7:00 PM

The program opens with Mozart's lively overture to The Abduction from the Seraglio, brimming with Turkish-inspired flair. Composer and violinist Noah Bendix-Balgley brings his unique Klezmer Concerto to life, blending classical virtuosity with the soulful melodies and energetic dances of Jewish folk music. The evening closes with Mendelssohn's majestic Reformation Symphony, a powerful testament to faith and renewal.

Program:
MOZART: Overture to Die Entführung aus dem Serail K. 384 (The Abduction from the Seraglio)
NOAH BENDIX-BALGLEY: A Klezmer Concerto*
FELIX MENDELSSOHN: Symphony No. 5 op. 107 in D Major (Reformation)
*Soloist: Noah Bendix-Balgley (violin)

Closing Night: Beethoven's Triple Concerto
Saturday, June 28 | UC San Diego Epstein Family Amphitheater | 7:00 PM
Guests may bring food and drink (non-alcoholic) into the venue. Food and drink will be available to purchase inside the venue.

The festival's grand finale begins with Mozart's delightful overture to Così fan tutte, followed by Beethoven's Triple Concerto, a rare gem that features the interplay of piano, violin, and cello performed by Joyce Yang, Noah Bendix-Balgely, and Robert DeMaine. The festival concludes with Beethoven's Symphony No. 7, a work of sheer exhilaration and rhythmic drive, often called "the apotheosis of the dance."

Program:
MOZART: Overture to Così fan tutte K. 588
BEETHOVEN: Triple Concerto op. 56 in C Major*
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 7 op. 92 in A Major
*Soloists: Joyce Yang (piano), Noah Bendix-Balgley (violin), Robert DeMaine (cello)

Dates
Wednesday, June 18 | 7:00pm|The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center
Friday, June 20 | 7:00pm| The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center
Saturday June 21 |7:00pm | UC San Diego Epstein Family Amphitheater
Tuesday, June 24 | 7:00pm| The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center
Thursday, June 26| 7:00pm| The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center
Saturday, June 28 | 7:00pm| UC San Diego Epstein Family Amphitheater

Venue Addresses
The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center | 7600 Fay Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037
UC San Diego's Epstein Family Amphitheater | 9480 Innovation Ln, San Diego 92093

Tickets:
Festival 6-concert, 4-concert, and 2-concert packages will be available for sale beginning Monday, Feb. 10 at https://www.mainlymozart.org/2025-fest-sales. Individual tickets will be available for sale at a date to be announced.

Single tickets for individual concerts at The Conrad range from $65-$149.
Single tickets for individual concerts at Epstein Family Amphitheater range from $25 -$149.

6-Concert Package:
Platinum Tickets for 4: $4150
Platinum Tickets for 2: $2200
Single Tickets
Tier AA $810
Tier A : $685
Tier B: $450
Tier C: $345
General Tier: $315

Epstein Family Amphitheater 2-Concert Package:
Platinum Table for 4: $2,000
Platinum Box for 2: $1,200
Single Tickets
Tier AA: $298
Tier A: $250
Tier B: $170
Tier C: $130
General Tier: $98
Back Lawn: $50

Conrad Prebys 4-Concert Package:
Tier AA: $596
Tier A: $500
Tier B: $340
General Tier: $260

About Mainly Mozart
Since 1988, Mainly Mozart has brought the San Diego community together to experience the finest in orchestral music, intimate concert experiences and extraordinary music education for young people. In that time, the famed Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra Festival has made its name as the largest gathering of Concertmasters and Principal Players in the United States, boasting top level players from the world's greatest orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Philharmonic and dozens more. Mainly Mozart's mission is to enrich the lives of today and tomorrow's passionate music lovers by connecting them to the genius and innovation of Mozart and the Masters, to world-class musicians and music-making, and to each other. For more information, visit www.mainlymozart.org. Keep up with news and announcements on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok.

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