Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in G minor may well be the composer’s most tempestuous work. Composed in a white heat of just a few weeks during the summer of 1788, this symphony is remarkable for its passion, violence and unadulterated grief. No other composer during the 18th century wrote anything like it. Few works have ever surpassed it.
Mozart’s masterpiece will be the highlight of the Gateway Chamber Orchestra’s concerts this Sunday in Clarksville and Monday in Franklin. The program, conducted by music director Gregory Wolynec, will also feature the Tennessee premiere of Clarence Cameron White’s Elegy and Bela Bartok’s Divertimento for Strings.
Founded in 2008, the Clarksville-based GCO has developed a regional following for its adventurous programs, which always include a mix of historic masterworks, forgotten treasures and contemporary American music. A versatile ensemble, the group appears in many different configurations, performing as a string combo, wind ensemble or full-fledged orchestra, depending on the repertoire.
GCO launched a Nashville concert series in 2013, giving a memorable performance of Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde. This season, GCO moved its Nashville series to Williamson County, performing at its new home at the Franklin Theatre.
The orchestra will perform at 4 p.m. Sunday at Mabry Concert Hall on the campus of Austin Peay State University. Tickets for that concert are available at gatewaychamberorchestra.com. Tickets for the orchestra’s 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Franklin Theatre are at franklintheatre.com.
