How Mozart’s music can sound today when it meets Cuban rhythm, joy of playing, and vibrant energy is demonstrated by Mozart y Mambo—an extraordinary project centered around horn player Sarah Willis (Berlin Philharmonic) and the Havana Lyceum Orchestra under the musical direction of Pepe Méndez.
Mozart y Mambo has established itself internationally as a major success. Three highly acclaimed albums released by Alpha Classics document the artistic development of the project and have significantly contributed to its global recognition. Concerts have taken the ensemble to renowned concert halls and major festivals across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, where they have been met with enthusiastic responses from audiences and critics alike.
The concerts of Mozart y Mambo are musical events full of energy and joie de vivre: they invite audiences to dance along, combine the highest level of musical excellence with a strong sense of connection to the audience, and often end with standing ovations — and a smile that lingers long after the final note.
The project gave rise to Sarah Willis’ own salsa band, The SARAHBANDA.
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PRESS
„He (Mozart) would certainly have liked this lively approach.“
Tagesspiegel Berlin, 12 August 2023
„I was similarly impressed by the elegance and flair of the Cuban sections – some of them riffs on Mozart, while others are drawn from traditional Cuban songs and dances.“
Gramophone Magazin, May 2023
„The incredible energy and rhythmic sensibility of the young and talented orchestral musicians was captured wonderfully.“
BR Klassik, 18 July 2020
Projects 2027/28
Dates upon request
Mozart y Mambo – with Sarah Willis in Kuba
A unique musical encounter in Havana: The successful project with Sarah Willis combines popular solo pieces for the horn by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with traditional Cuban music. The program includes music from the first three released CDs.
