Two pianos on stage

We went to the symphony yesterday afternoon for the start of our regular Sunday concert series. I have to admit, a highlight for me was seeing our nice seat neighbors Betsy and Paul, and getting caught up on all the news of the summer. Of course, with very little coaxing I whipped out our portable album of baby Nova photos!

The highlight of the program was Mozart's Concerto (K.365) for two pianos. Before it even begins, there is something thrilling about seeing those enormous pianos wheeled out on the stage together. Jon Kumera Parker and Orli Shaham were the pianists.

The famous old portrait above is of Mozart and his sister Anna Maria, known as Nannerl. Dad Mozart is on the right with his violin, and Mom looks down from the portrait. They don't exactly look like they're having a good time. Both kids were gifted pianists, and trotted around Europe at an early age performing. Music scholars assume this concerto was was written by Mozart as a showpiece to perform with his sister. I read in the program that Albert Einstein was a Mozart scholar in his spare time, and he described the relationship of the two pianos in the first movement of this concerto as a "brilliant contest." Sibling rivalry?