Mozart’s K.543 is more difficult than it may appear.

 

This became clear very early on.

 

The rehearsal was intense, but also complicated from the beginning, mainly because of the balance within the orchestra. Several violinists were missing, especially among the first violins, and this had a clear impact on the overall sound.

 

The concertmaster, whom I did not know, found herself in difficulty. Not for lack of commitment, but because the role requires a level of confidence that was not fully there, which created some tension within the section.

 

The first violins were the most fragile point: a great deal of insecurity, often unstable intonation, and difficulty in sustaining exposed passages.

 

The second violins were much more stable, and the rest of the strings worked reasonably well overall.

 

The winds were, on the whole, the most solid part of the day, although not without a few imperfections.

 

There was, for example, a late bassoon entry at the end of the opening Adagio — a small moment, but quite noticeable.

 

Clarinets and bassoons remained reliable for most of the performance, and brass and timpani also provided a stable foundation.

 

The flute had a few less precise moments, especially in the upper register, and missed a brief entry in the first movement, but overall the section supported the structure of the symphony well.

 

Despite these difficulties, the rehearsal maintained a consistently positive working atmosphere.

 

It was important not to let tension or frustration take over, and I believe this made a real difference. We worked with clarity, trying to build as much as possible within the conditions we had.

 

The concert inevitably reflected these balances.

 

The first violins remained the most exposed section, and some imprecision was audible.

 

At the same time, the symphony found a certain coherence, despite some evident flaws, largely thanks to the overall solidity of the orchestra.

 

The audience followed both the rehearsal and the concert with great attention, and the response was very positive.

 

As always, this has a strong impact on the overall perception of the evening.

 

It was a difficult process, not always successful, but never superficial.

 

And throughout the concert, we never stopped making music together.