MERRY MOZART featuring Mina Gajić and Nurit Pacht with COmpass REsonance

Mozart captured the exuberance and joy of life better than any other orchestral composer, weaving layers of delight into his music—like an exquisite musical confection celebrating life’s wonder, splendor, laughter, and pure happiness. This captivating program invites you to immerse yourself in the sheer beauty and playful spirit of Mozart’s works, designed to uplift and charm the soul.

Balkan pianist Mina Gajić brings her distinctive artistry to Mozart’s deeply heartfelt Piano Concerto No. 11 (K. 413), collaborating with the acclaimed COmpass REsonance (CORE) and esteemed guest violinist and leader, Nurit Pacht. This sparkling, virtuosic, and delightfully engaging program highlights beloved Mozart compositions cherished by string musicians, including two renowned Divertimentos that embody the elegance and clarity of the Classical Style. Under Nurit’s expert guidance, known for her dynamic performances and nuanced understanding of 18th-century music, CORE’s virtuoso string orchestra skillfully brings Mozart’s sublime harmonic beauty vividly to life. Mina’s extensive expertise with the harpsichord and historical pianos ensures her interpretations brim with agile precision and playful exuberance.

Adding festive joy to the occasion, and perfectly timed just days before Christmas, CORE will premiere newly commissioned arrangements of beloved holiday carols, reimagined with a delightful Mozartian twist.

COmpass REsonance (CORE) is a conductorless ensemble uniting acclaimed musicians from across the U.S. alongside Colorado’s finest talents. CORE’s artists, comprising concertmasters, principal orchestral players, and distinguished quartet performers from Asia, Europe, and North America, gather in Boulder to present innovative musical experiences that transcend time and culture.

Mina Gajić plays with “tremendous insight…remarkable sensitivity and thoroughness…” -StringThings

"Immediately apparent is the duo’s uncanny unity of phrasing. In each gesture — whether long sequences of harmony, punchy statements, delicate lifts, or phrases that come to a halt at the edge of an emotional cliff – Carrettín and Gajić share the same sense of propulsion, giving their playing a lean power and an extra glimmer of energy...daring virtuosity, tossed off with glee." -Early Music America

“Pacht’s sultry, bittersweet playing of the blues movement confirmed that hers is a special artistry.” -London Times

“Nurit Pacht’s sound is as assertive as her temperament is charismatic. She grabs the music with an extraordinary intensity which gives each note its proper expressive weight.” -Le Temps (Switzerland)