October 30th Suggested Itinerary

Saturday, October 30th arrives, and you’re in Calgary to celebrate one of the most enduringly popular of the great classical composers.

That night you’ll take in the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra’s Mozart & Salieri – A Requiem for Mozart and a fabulous after party, but before the show you have an afternoon to kill in a city that’s starting to feel a little bit like 18th-century Vienna.

First up, you’ll need some fuel for the day’s activities: we recommend kicking things off with weekend brunch at Thomson’s (Hyatt Regency, 700 Centre St. SE). Manage your intake of eggs benedict and European-style pastries appropriately: there’s no time for naps.

After brunch, stroll a few blocks down Stephen Avenue to the Art Gallery of Calgary (117 8th Ave. SW). Take in the gallery’s artwork to the sounds of Piano Concerto #10, join instructors and paint to Symphony #10 in C Major, or create an animation piece to Opera Le Nozze di Figaro.

Best of all, just flash your CPO ticket stub for that evening and you get in for free.

Once you clean the paint off your fingernails, hop back out onto Stephen Avenue and head to the Glenbow Museum (130 9th Ave. SE). Western Canada’s largest museum has exhibitions by Colombian baroque artist Fernando Botero and the witty and subversive Canadian John Will (in addition to its substantial permanent collection).

Time for more sustenance. With a goal of keeping you within a three-block radius, we suggest Catch Restaurant & Oyster Bar (100 8th Ave. SE, 403-206-0000). Make reservations for 6 p.m. to be safe, and prepare yourself for Calgary’s finest seafood. Wolfgang himself would be pleased with some of the Austrian-inspired additions to the menu.

Finally, it’s show time. Head over to the Jack Singer Concert Hall (EPCOR Centre for Performing Arts, 205 8th Ave. SE) and grab your seats by 8 p.m. for Mozart & Salieri – A Requiem for Mozart, a heated tale of jealousy, rivalry, genius and betrayal.

Maestro Roberto Minczuk leads a dramatic adaptation of Mozart’s ultimate masterpiece, Requiem, as left unfinished at the time of his death. The evening includes a staging of the one-act opera that inspired the film Amadeus.

That’s a lot of culture for one day, time to let your hair down. After the show, cross the street for the Opening Night Masquerade and Murder Mystery After Party at Teatro (200 8th Ave. SE). Inspired by the many rumours surrounding Mozart’s demise, the party is a mysterious masquerade in one of Calgary’s greatest open restaurant spaces. Dress up and let loose.

Party until it’s Halloween, and then call it a night. Want to come back next Saturday?

November 6th Suggested Itinerary

Saturday, November 6th arrives, and you find yourself in Calgary to catch Mozart at the Opera. First though, you have a full day of Mozart-approved activities to take care of.

Start with lunch at Belgo Brasserie (501 8th Ave. SW) for Parisien-style café fare. There will be an Austrian flavour to some of the French delights on the menu in celebration of the man of the hour.

From there, head east down Stephen Avenue to the Art Gallery of Calgary (117 8th Ave. SW). Take in the gallery’s artwork to the sounds of Piano Concerto #10, join instructors and paint to Symphony #10 in C Major, or create an animation piece to Opera Le Nozze di Figaro. All of this is free upon presentation of your CPO ticket stub for the evening.

After getting your hands dirty in the artistic process, why not go shopping? Fashion Central (805 1st St. SW) and Art Central (100 7th Ave. SW) are nearby hubs for all things artistic and trendy…worn, hung or displayed. Stephen Avenue has a number of shops, everything from department stores like The Bay to specialty boutiques like Riley & McCormick (perfect for a pair of Mozart-approved cowboy boots).

By then it should be time for some pre-show schnitzel and a taste of Austrian wine or beer. We recommend giving Bistro Piq Niq (811 1st St. SW, 403-263-1650) a try, just be sure to arrive by 6 p.m. with a reservation.

Then, it’s opera time. Head back to Stephen Avenue, hang a right and walk two blocks east to the Jack Singer Concert Hall (EPCOR Centre for Performing Arts, 205 8th Ave. SE) for Mozart at the Opera at 8 p.m. You’re about to get a taste of Mozart’s love of the human voice with operas, arias and choruses from Don Giovanni, Cosi Fan Tutte and The Marriage of Figaro.

After the show, if you’re game for a nightcap, look for the Calgary Tower and head to the foot of it. The Auburn Saloon (115 9th Ave. SE) is the city’s much-loved “theatre” bar and a great spot to unwind and chat about the performance. Want to come back next Saturday for the festival finale?

November 13th Suggested Itinerary

Saturday, November 13th arrives, and you’re in Calgary for the grand finale of Mozart in the City: The Jupiter Symphony with Karen Gomyo. Some preparations to set the mood are in order…

First off, some fuel: brunch at Avenue Diner (105 8th Ave. SW). The delectable menu is full of uptown diner fare (the corned beef hash is insane).

From there, go get a first-hand peek at Calgary’s ever-evolving skyline by heading to the top of the Calgary Tower (101 9th Ave. SE). Make faces at the construction workers as they complete the impressive Bow building in front of your very eyes.

Finish off the afternoon with a little shopping: Fashion Central (805 1st St. SW) and Art Central (100 7th Ave. SW) are nearby hubs for all things artistic and trendy…worn, hung or displayed. If a mall is more your style, pay the CORE (324 8th Ave. SW) a visit: they have four storeys of exclusive fashions, accessories and lifestyle items.

Time for dinner, might as well treat it as any 18th-century opulent Austrian would: with some fine dining. We recommend new kid on the block Rush (207 9th Ave. SW, 403-271-7874) for some Euro continental cuisine. Be there by 6 p.m. with a reservation, you don’t want to miss what comes next.

The piece de resistance of the Mozart in the City Festival has arrived. Head back to Stephen Avenue, hang a right and walk two blocks east to the Jack Singer Concert Hall (EPCOR Centre for Performing Arts, 205 8th Ave. SE) for Jupiter Symphony & Karen Gomyo at 8 p.m. Enjoy Mozart’s first and final symphonies alongside the exquisite and stunning Gomyo on her 1703 Stradivarius violin.

After the show, cross the street to Centini Restaurant & Lounge (160 8th Ave. SE) for the Festival Finale After Party. Celebrate with CPO Maestro Roberto Minczuk, the power and passion behind an amazing festival of music, food and art.