YSO to present the life of Mozart in show

The orchestra will be joined by actors for the one-act play.

By Guy D’Astolfo

YOUNGSTOWN — Even by 18th-century standards, Mozart’s life was brief.

And yet the composer, who many consider the yardstick by which musical genius is measured, composed a vast array of music.

Mozart died in 1791 at age 35, having composed more than 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, chamber, piano, operatic and choral music.

He remains among the most enduringly popular of classical composers.

Youngstown Symphony Orchestra will reveal the emotional roller coaster that was the life of Mozart, as told in his letters and a sampling of his musical works, in “Amadeus LIVE!,” a one-act play. “Amadeum LIVE!” will be part of the YSO’s masterworks concert Saturday at Powers Auditorium.

Joining the orchestra, under the direction of Randall Craig Fleischer, who also wrote and directed the play, are James McClellan in the role of Amadeus Mozart, Candice DiLullo in the role of Mozart’s housekeeper and Thomas Schurich who will perform arias from Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” and “The Marriage of Figaro.”

McClellan offered a description of what concertgoers can expect.

“The first half of the concert will more or less follow a narrative, with me appearing as Mozart, in full costume, reading and sometimes acting out letters which were written by Mozart himself,” he said.

“The orchestra will sometimes underscore me and sometimes will play full pieces between letters.

“There is also a singer – Thomas Scurich – who will perform an aria or two, and the Ballet Western Reserve Company dancers will perform selections from his operas and his ballet.

At the end of the first half, an actress – Candace DiLullo – will read an account of Mozart’s death written by a maid who was present that day.”

Members of Ballet Western Reserve, under the direction of Richard Dickinson, will perform the ballet from “Idomeneo,” scenes from “Les Petite Riens,” and a minuet waltz set to “Se Vuol Balace” from “The Marriage of Figaro.”

After intermission, the orchestra will perform Mozart’s Symphony No. 40.