Q & A with Franz Welser-Möst

You will appear at Blossom conducting Shostakovich’s Fifth Symphony, a piece you plan to bring on tour to Europe this fall, following performances of Shostakovich’s Seventh Symphony last season. What is it about the Shostakovich symphonies that attracts you and that makes them a good vehicle for The Cleveland Orchestra?

Because the Fifth Symphony is considered one of Shostakovich’s masterpieces it will be prominent in our performances in Toronto, Paris, Linz and Vienna. Shostakovich symphonies highlight specific sounds this Orchestra excels in – multiple brass solos and a unified string sound which must contain many shifts in color. The piece will also demonstrate the versatility of the orchestra – a seamless juxtaposition of passages that include both very loud and soft dynamics. These qualities all add up to the portrayal of a wide range of emotions within a single work.

Your soloist for Beethoven’s Violin Concerto is an artist who just appeared with the Orchestra in February – Nikolaj Znaider. Is this the first time you’ve worked together?

Yes, I know of his recording of the concerto with the Israel Philharmonic. I heard that his performances in Cleveland were very well received and I like his sound very much so we’ve invited him back right away for the summer season. His large stage presence will work very well outdoors at Blossom.

Two arrangements by Italian composer Luciano Berio are on the program Sunday. One by Boccherini and one by Brahms. Berio was well-known as an experimental composer, however these arrangements are orchestrations of classical and romantic works. What can we expect to hear?

In the Night Music of Madrid, originally a classical string quintet, Berio combined several movements into one piece, which is quite clever. The flavor is perfect for an evening outdoor concert - whimsical. Again, we have an opportunity to demonstrate the precise string sound of the Orchestra in a reduced fashion. The Brahms is an orchestration of a famous sonata that every clarinetist loves. It contains quite a passionate melody.

In addition to your extremely acclaimed Ring cycle in Vienna, you’ve just completed a set of performances of Mozart’s Così fan tutte with the Zurich Opera, the production that will be coming to Cleveland next spring. Can you give us a sneak peek about what to expect?

More traditional in the costuming than our Marriage of Figaro, this production includes wonderful ensemble performances –the Act I finale sextet is Mozart at his best. We will bring back some of the wonderful singers from Zurich including Malin Hartelius, who you will remember as the Countess who sang the incredibly moving “Dove sono” aria in Figaro.