MOZART
INTERNATIONAL CHORAL FESTIVAL
SALZBURG, AUSTRIA
June 27—July 1, 2012
Artistic Directors
Dr. William Skoog
Prof. János Czifra
Featuring Mozart’s
Missa Solemnis
In
C Major
K.337
The Setting
The City
Salzburg, Austria
SALZBURG, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, is the capital of the federal state of Salzburg, and the
fourth-largest city in Austria. Its most famous historical resident is, by far, the 18th-century composer Wolfgang
Amadeus Mozart. The name Salzburg literally means "Salt Castle," which refers to the heavy salt trade going through
the city during the 17th and 18th centuries.
The Festival
Mozart
Music Celebrations International is pleased to present the MOZART INTERNATIONAL CHORAL FESTIVAL,
June 27—July 1, 2012. The festival will feature a large festival chorus under the direction of Dr. William Skoog,
performing an eclectic selection of American and Western Classical works, as well as Mozart. Prof. János Czifra
will conduct Mozart’s great masterpiece, Missa Solemnis in C Major, K. 337, accompanied by the Salzburger
Domorchester. While employed in Salzburg, Mozart composed many of his great works, including a dozen masses
and five violin concertos. And even after he escaped to Vienna — and was free to write whatever he wanted — he
began work on another religious work — the great C Minor Mass, with its stunning Kyrie.
In his early years, Mozart was employed as a court musician by the ruler of Salzburg. During this time, the com-
poser had the opportunity to work in many genres, including symphonies, sonatas, string quartets, serenades, and a
few minor operas. On January 27, 2006, the 250th anniversary of Mozart’s birth, all 35 churches of Salzburg rang
their bells to celebrate the occasion. Major celebrations took place throughout the year, including the original
Mozart International Choral Festival.
The Venue
Salzburg Cathedral
The SALZBURG CATHEDRAL, a 17th century baroque masterpiece, was the site where Mozart was baptized, and
where he also served as the cathedral organist for two years while he was a teenager. Inside, the cathedral’s brightly
lit dome is painted with scenes of the Passion in soft blues and rust hues. In 1944, an Allied bomb hit the dome and
destroyed part of the chancel. Once the necessary repairs had been completed, the Cathedral was consecrated again
in 1959.
The Organizers
Music Celebrations International
MUSIC CELEBRATIONS INTERNATIONAL (MCI) provides unique performance and educational
opportunities to performing groups.
MCI has produced outstanding instrumental and choral festivals in Canterbury, Lincoln, Wells and York, England;
in Oberammergau, Germany; in Innsbruck, Salzburg and Vienna, Austria; in Lucerne, Switzerland; in Beijing and
Tianjin, The Peoples Republic of China; in New York City, New York; in Washington, D.C.; and in Jamestown,
Virginia as part of America’s 400th Anniversary.
WILLIAM SKOOG is Professor of Music, Chair of the Depart-
ment of Music, and Director of Choral Studies at Rhodes College.
Choral ensembles under his direction have distinguished themselves
at OCDA, OMEA, ACDA and MENC conference performances,
have performed at special events honoring William F. Buckley Jr.,
and Generals Colin Powell and Norman Schwartzkopf.
Dr. Skoog has conducted various university choirs with the Toledo
Symphony (OH), the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra (IN), the
Elkhart Symphony and Chorus (IN), the Prague Radio Symphony
Orchestra, and the Moravian Symphony Orchestra. He served as a
featured artistic director and conductor of the distinguished Lucerne
Choral Festival, Switzerland, in 2008, conducing 11 choirs from
throughout the United States with the Santa Maria Orchestra from
Lucerne. He has conducted European premieres of works by Dave
Brubeck, and has prepared choruses for Dmitry Sitkovetsky, Edvard
Tchivzhel, Stephan Sanderling, and Giordano Bellincampi.
Dr. William Skoog
Choral Studies Director, Rhodes College
Prof. János Czifra
Artistic Directors
Domkapellmeister, Salzburger Dom
Born in Hungary, JÁNOS CZIFRA has
been the director of music of the Salzburg
Dom since 1989. Apart from his liturgical
services, Czifra has arranged the music for
the choir and the orchestra of the cathedral
for internationally recognized big events
such as the visit of the Pope to Salzburg,
Episcopal consecration and jubilees, and
festivals of sacred music and symposiums.
Numerous concert tours led János Czifra
and the Cathedral Choir to the USA, to
Japan and to various European cities. Due
to his international reputation, Czifra has
repeatedly been invited as conductor or
juror in Europe and overseas. In 2002 Janos
Czifra was admitted into the European
Academy of Science and Arts and thus
given the title "Professor.” It is personally
highly important for him to work together
with musical guests in Salzburg.
Festival Itinerary & Tour Extension Options
Festival Itinerary
4 nights ~ Salzburg
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 2012
Arrival at Munich International Airport. Participants are met by Music Celebrations staff and board their awaiting motorcoaches.
Transfer to Salzburg, Austria and check into hotel. Dinner at a local restaurant. Evening free at leisure.
THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2012
Morning guided tour of Salzburg including Mirabel Palace & Gardens, Mozart Square, the Dom (Cathedral), University Church, the
Mozarthaus, and a cable car ride up to the Hohensalzburg Fortress. Festival Welcome Lunch and Introductions. Afternoon festival chorus re-
hearsal. Dinner, on own. Evening festival chorus rehearsal.
FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 2012
Morning at leisure. Afternoon festival chorus rehearsal. Dinner at a local restaurant. Evening festival chorus Dress Rehearsal.
SATURDAY, JUNE 30, 2012
Morning tour of Hellbrunn Schloß. Afternoon at leisure. Dinner, on own. Evening Festival Finale Concert.
SUNDAY, JULY 1, 2012
For choirs extending their tour: Sing/participate in Mass at the Salzburg Dom . Continue on with extension tour.
For choirs returning home after the festival: Transfer to Munich International Airport for return flight home.
MUSIC CELEBRATIONS knows that many choirs will want to spend time exploring Europe after the festival. MCI is able to help bal-
anced choirs perform in stand-alone concerts as part of the American Celebration of Music in Europe. The following are suggestions of
post-festival extensions to consider. MCI is happy to create a completely customized tour for you and your choir per your request.
Tour #2 ~ Extension to Vienna
6 nights ~ Salzburg & Vienna
Following the festival, transfer to Vienna via Melk, with a short recital in the Abbey. Tour musical and historical Vienna.
Evening Concert in Vienna. Farewell dinner.
Tour #3 ~ Extension to Vienna & Prague
9 nights ~ Salzburg, Vienna & Prague
Transfer to Vienna. Tour musical and historical Vienna. Evening Concert in Vienna. Transfer to Prague. Evening concert in Prague.
Take a half-day guided tour of Terezin (the infamous Nazi concentration camp for children). Return to Prague for farewell dinner.
Tour #4 ~ Extension to Vienna, Eisenstadt & Budapest
9 nights ~ Salzburg, Vienna, Eisenstadt & Budapest
Transfer to Vienna. Tour musical and historical Vienna. Evening Concert in Vienna. Transfer to Budapest via Eisenstadt, and visit the
famous Esterhazy Palace. Take a tour of Budapest. Evening concert in Budapest. Take a day trip to the Hungarian Puzsta. Return to
Budapest for farewell dinner.
Tour #5 ~ Extension to Heidelburg, Reims & Paris
9 nights ~ Salzburg, Heidelburg, Reims & Paris
Transfer to Heidelberg. Take a half-day tour of Germany's oldest university town. Evening Concert in Heidelberg. Transfer to Paris
via Reims to visit the Cathedral of Notre-Dame. Take a half-day guided tour of Paris historique. Morning concert in Notre-Dame
Cathedral. Enjoy a half-day tour of Paris artistique. Farewell dinner.
Music Celebrations International
Concert Tours With Integrity
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