This year there will be hundreds, if not thousands, of concerts played around the globe celebrating the music of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart who was born on January 27th, 1759 in Salzburg, Austria.

One among the many concerts in Dublin was the Dublin Choral Foundation’s Mozart Anniversary Concert at the National Concert Hall on Saturday 28th January.Not only was this a celebration of the 250th anniversary of the composer’s birth but it was also the conductor, Ite O’Donovans 50th birthday and the 10th anniversary of the Dublin Choral Foundation established in 1996.

The Lassus Scholars and Piccolo Lasso made up the choir and were accompanied by the Orlando Chamber Orchestra. In the first half there were two choral works (one of these, the Te Deum, was composed when Mozart was just thirteen years old), and his violin concerto number four played by the leader of the ensemble Gillian Williams.

In the second half they performed the famous Mass in C minor, which was probably worth the entrance fee alone. It is something singular hearing a large choir sing and everyone should try to listen to the Mass in C minor. The powerful opening ‘Kyrie’ and the ‘Sanctus’ are breath-taking and the men, women and children of the Lassus Scholars and Piccolo Lasso did the entire mass justice on the night. Bail Ó Dhia ar an obair!

Mozart’s music, especially his recognized masterpieces, are brilliant and beautiful and are rightfully regarded as true works of genius. Sometimes, though, in the concert hall, any concert hall, the serious atmosphere can detract from the pleasure and delight of the music.

It can unwittingly stifle the freedom and joy that was originally hoped to be expressed. Some members of the audience if not familiar with classical concert conduct may find that sitting grimly in serried rows watching the orchestra and choir perform this form of music a little too austere and (especially if the concert is lengthy), uncomfortable. They may come away disappointed.

With this in mind a small Berlin Music company, the Winter-Garden Variety Company, has put on a production of Mozart’s music but with a difference. With an ensemble of musicians playing a selection of his lighter works in the background, the front stage is occupied in turns by a mixture of different performance artists.

These include trapeze artists, comic jugglers and magicians, among others, who perform their own personal interpretations of whichever musical work is played at the time.

Of course, there is a proper manner of presentation and comportment for the more serious works, the masses, the concertos but this innovative take on Mozart’s music gives the young and old an accessible evening of enjoyable entertainment, especially for children who otherwise might not have found listening to classical music tolerable.

While some may argue that it takes away from the music, one who perhaps would disagree is the man whose birth and music is being globally celebrated this year.

Information on the Piccolo Lasso (Childrens Choir)

Dublin Choral Foundation (established 1996) is the only musical establishment in the country, which combines both children’s voices with adults in full professional performances of major works.

Piccolo Lasso, pictured, is the junior section of the Lassus Scholars and caters for boys and girls aged between 9 and 16. Members of the junior choir receive specialised training in sight singing, notation and theory, vocal technique, interpretation and repertoire and are guided through a training scheme leading to bronze, silver and gold awards.

The boys and girls sing as equals with the men and women of the Lassus Scholars. Members of the Piccolo Lasso children’s choir sang in the chorus of the recent Opera Ireland production of the Queen of Spades at the Gaiety and at the NCH in works by Beethoven, Delibes and Bizet.

For more information on how to join contact Ite O’Donovan at 01-4539663 or check out their website at www.dublinchoralfoundation.ie.