Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s late 1770s compositions will anchor two consecutive concert evenings at the Opéra-Théâtre in Clermont-Ferrand on October 16 and 17. Pianist and conductor Christian Zacharias has curated a stylistically cohesive program that highlights the composer’s second stay in Paris in 1778, featuring performances by soloists Magdalena Ho, Vincent Lucas, and Valeria Kafelnikov, alongside a contemporary opening work by composer Margaux Dauby.
Clermont-Ferrand Concert Program and Schedule
The October 16 and 17 performances at the Clermont-Ferrand Opéra-Théâtre begin at 7:30 p.m., according to the event schedule. Christian Zacharias serves as both conductor and pianist for the program, sharing the stage with several guest soloists. The concert opens with Entropia, a festive inaugural piece written by young composer Margaux Dauby, which the Orchestre national Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes features this season to spotlight young female composers, as noted in the program notes. Created on December 19, 2023, at the CNSMD de Lyon upon a commission by Siméon Labouret and Félix Nunes, the piece sets the stage for the evening’s classical repertoire.
Mozart’s Late-1770s Masterpieces in Dialogue
The core program centers on works composed around 1778, a period defined by Mozart’s time in Paris. According to music critic Alain Cochard writing for ConcertClassic, the concert opens and closes with the Divertimento No. 17 in D major, KV 334, split into two halves. The first movements open the evening, while the final movements complete it.
Framed by the Divertimento are two major concertos: the Concerto for Two Pianos in E-flat major, KV 365, and the Concerto for Flute and Harp in C major, KV 299. Zacharias performs the two-piano concerto alongside Magdalena Ho, who won the Clara Haskil Competition in 2023. Cochard describes the pairing of Zacharias and Ho as a “duet of poets.” For the flute and harp concerto, Vincent Lucas, solo flute for the Orchestre de Paris, performs alongside harpist Valeria Kafelnikov.
Tour Dates and Lyon Performance
Following the Clermont-Ferrand residency, part of the program travels to Lyon. On October 22, 2026, at 12:30 p.m., the Auditorium de Lyon hosts a midday concert featuring the Divertimento No. 17 and the Concerto for Flute and Harp, with Vincent Lucas and Valeria Kafelnikov returning as soloists, as reported by ConcertClassic.