Unmasking Mozart

Behind the Mask: Music of Mozart, Haydn, and Stravinsky
Featuring Maestro Thomas Heuser in his Fifteenth and Final Season as Music Director

At first glance, the music of Mozart and Haydn shimmers with the grace, balance, and charm that define the Classical era—but look closer, and you’ll discover the emotional depth, daring innovation, and playful spirit hiding just beneath the surface.

The program opens with Haydn’s rarely heard Overture to The Soul of the Philosopher, drawn from his final opera. This brief but powerful work reveals the drama, mystery, and expressive power that Haydn wove into his elegant musical language. Next, Mozart’s Linz Symphony—composed in an astonishing four days—bursts with infectious energy, sparkling humor, and the unmistakable brilliance of a composer at the height of his powers.

From there, the journey leaps forward to the 20th century with Igor Stravinsky’s Pulcinella Suite, a delightful reimagining of Baroque and Classical styles infused with Stravinsky’s sharp wit and rhythmic vitality. Inspired by the mischievous world of commedia dell’arte, Pulcinella features our own Idaho Falls Symphony musicians as soloists in a lively, colorful chamber setting that brings the music full circle—proving that behind every elegant mask, there is always a heartbeat of invention and joy.

This engaging program is part of Maestro Thomas Heuser’s final season as Music Director of the Idaho Falls Symphony, a celebration of his artistic leadership and deep connection to this community. Join us for an evening where old and new collide, revealing the timeless sparkle of music that still smiles—from behind the mask.

Thomas Heuser, conductor

      Haydn, L'anima del filosofo (The Soul of the Philosopher)

      Igor Stravinsky Suite from Pulcinella 

      W.A. Mozart, Symphony No. 36, “Linz”

Don't miss Prolouges! Join Thomas for a journey inside the music before the concert, at 6:30, in the Little Theater.