“Rejoice and sing!” I’m so excited to join the Zephyr Symphony this September for Mozart’s incredible motet was written for a castrato soloist in Milan, sparkles with youthful exuberance and operatic brilliance. Its final movement, the jubilant “Alleluia,” has become one of Mozart’s most beloved vocal works. Mozart was only 17 when he composed this and it is so gorgeous!

The concert opens with this masterpiece and is followed by an incredible evening of Mozart. Baritone Julio Ferrari, who I got to sing with a couple of years ago in Albert Herring, joins the ensemble for “Per questa bella mano,” a rare and virtuosic concert aria written in 1791. Scored for bass voice and an equally dazzling solo double bass, this aria is both a romantic serenade and a showcase of Mozart’s playful inventiveness. The ornate writing highlights the voice’s expressive richness and the unexpected lyricism of the double bass.

“Laut verkünde unsre Freude,” a brief yet radiant piece composed for the dedication of a Masonic lodge in 1791. Its noble fanfare and choral proclamations reflect Mozart’s deep connection to Enlightenment ideals and the ceremonial grandeur of the Masonic tradition.

The evening concludes with Mozart’s final symphony, Symphony No. 41 in C Major, K. 551—nicknamed “Jupiter.” Completed in 1788, this monumental work combines grandeur, complexity, and a triumphant spirit. Its finale, a masterclass in counterpoint, weaves together five distinct themes in an exuberant celebration of musical intellect and joy, affirming Mozart’s status as a master of symphonic form.

Tickets can be found at zephyrsymphony.org