Philharmonia Healdsburg at the Raven

Classical performances will be held Nov. 16, 17
Ready, set, and go, to Philharmonia Healdsburg’s first season performance, Mozart and Salieri – Friendly Rivals. Ha – seriously, were they, indeed, “friendly” rivals? Or did Salieri sabotage Mozart’s career, use his influence to deny Mozart his rightful professional standing – and – if all of that wasn’t quite enough – did he murder the world’s greatest musical genius? The gossip around this story led to a riveting stage play and a fascinating movie. Our conductor loved Amadeus, the movie, so much that he chose these works to open the series.
What is the true back story between these two gifted composers? Actually, the facts are quite civilized.  Mozart and Salieri had great professional respect for one another and often crossed paths in Viennese music circles. Yes, Salieri bowed to Mozart’s genius and must have felt jealousy for his stunning creative ease.  However, Salieri held the most prestigious musical posts in Vienna, including a high position working for Emperor Joseph II, president of this, director of that, and the list goes on.  Mozart’s best efforts never landed him such extraordinary positions. Bummer.  The lesser composer was chosen for the better positions.  Salieri lived to be a wealthy 75 year old and Mozart departed at 36, broke.
Salieri’s “Symphony Veneziana” will lead off the evening’s performance.  The piece is based on three different opera overtures.  Makes sense – Salieri was primarily an opera composer.  The following piece of ear candy will be Mozart’s “Sinfonia Concertante” for Violin and Viola. This composition is considered Mozart’s coming of age, as he wrote this after the loss of a fiancé and a mother – he was 23. He wrote the viola portion for himself, giving it equal time to the violin. It’s said to be his last performance on the viola and then he poured himself into his greatest love, the piano.  The last piece of the evening will be Mozart’s “Symphony No.29 in A” – written when he was 18. We hear this several times in “Amadeus”. Mozart would then go on to write more than 41 symphonies. Amazing.
The performaces will be held on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 17  at 2 p.m.
The Raven Performing Arts Theater is home to two resident performing arts groups: the Raven Players, actors who perform musicals and plays, and Philharmonia Healdsburg, musicians who perform classical music. But it wasn’t always that inclusive. It had been lacking classical music performances. Four years ago Tom Brand, the Executive Director of the Raven had a chat with Henk Peters, the then President of the Raven Board of Directors. Both gentlemen agreed that there was indeed an opportunity for The Raven to expand into classical music. The Santa Rosa Symphony was going to be marching south to Rohnert Park, leaving miles and miles of non-classical music territory.  Brand and Peters called in their musical guru, Les Pfutzenreuter, to help them create something wonderful – local classical music. Emphasis on local – Rohnert Park is a hike and becomes a major hike to Healdsburg residents during the rainy winter months. Les had already won the town over by putting together an awesome pit orchestra for “Miss Saigon, Cats,” and “Joseph and The Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Problem solved – Les would be music director of the newly formed Philharmonia Healdsburg – or – as we locals like to call it — Phil H. His musicians come from all over the Bay Area and are members of other professional orchestras. Major funding comes from the Raven Theater Board and some local businesses. Big John’s Market of Healdsburg and Baci Café and Wine Bar have been remarkably supportive.  Ticket sales make up only a portion of resourses, so sponsors and donors are crucial to the financial health of the organization. Yes, a small plug here.
Les is more than the music director and conductor of Philharmonia Healdsburg. He’s a great guy who you wish you were standing next to at the grocery check-out line or picking up your dry cleaning.  He’s friendly, lively and sports a smile that will quickly break into a hardy laugh. Les is eager to talk about dogs, as Max is his third Shih Tzu. He considers his small pal to be the most spoiled dog in the world –and his favorite all time movie is “Best in Show.” The conductor lives in a home in Hopland with his partner, and is quite comfortable spending his time off enjoying his stunning view and cooking.  The former mid-westerner is happy to toss a few steaks on the barbie or cook up a pasta feast.  His kitchen is overloaded with cook books after he signed up for the Cookbook of the Month Club. And when nightfall rolls around, he’s happy to pick up the remote and catch an episode of HGTV. His music path? Pfutzenreuter was well on his way to becoming a band director (he plays trumpet and French horn), when his brass and conducting teacher at undergrad school suggested classical music as an option.  Les went home and blasted Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet (holding speakers to each ear – catch the visual?) and the tides turned. Les was sold on classical music conducting. “The thrill of conducting is that you are right in the middle of the sound. To be enveloped in that sound is just fantastic”, remarks the conductor. And you can see that thrill on his face when he works.
Robby Robinson can be reached at www.robbyrobinson.com.