Though her Las Vegas home is filled with accolades from the world of jazz music, Laura Mulkey is quick to give credit to the classical music world.
"My career personally has not been a classical one -- it's been jazz. But my musical background, because of my mother, who was a great classical artist, is laced with a profound respect for Mozart as one of the greatest composers of all time," said Mulkey, who will host an all-Mozart soiree at her home on Wednesday as a fundraiser for the Las Vegas Philharmonic; the event is already sold out.
Mulkey, a jazz singer and pianist who performs with the Laura Taylor Quartet, as well as in various solo engagements, said all types of music, including jazz, were influenced by Mozart.
"If you don't have respect for classical music, it's like saying you want to build your house without putting in a foundation," said Mulkey.
Mulkey serves on the board of the Las Vegas Philharmonic and said she looks forward to the upcoming fundraising party and performance.
"I lead a dual life -- board member by day and jazz singer by night," said Mulkey, who sang for years at the Desert Inn hotel-casino, which was closed to make room for Wynn Las Vegas, and has two platinum records hanging on her wall -- one for a song she wrote that Diana Ross recorded.
The party at Mulkey's home will feature a performance by Austrian pianist Andreas Klein, who is known as a Mozart specialist.
In a room in her house informally called the Mozartium, Mulkey played some of Mozart's earliest music on a recent morning.
She marveled especially at the young age of Mozart when he began composing.
"You just can't believe that any child could create something like that when he was 5," she said.
Las Vegas Philharmonic music director Harold Weller mentioned Mozart's early start as well when he spoke of the composer.
He also is amazed by what appears to have been Mozart's natural gift.
Unlike other composers, Mozart never revised his work.
The music just seemed to pour onto the page already completed.
Weller said Mozart covered almost every point on the emotional spectrum, even though he died at the age of 35.
The Philharmonic will present Mozart's Symphony No. 39, which Weller called a "mature work," for its "Happy Birthday Amadeus! The Mozart Experience" concert, scheduled for 8 p.m. Feb. 25 at UNLV's Ham Hall.
Mozart was born on Jan. 27, 1756.
"Somebody said playing Mozart is like taking a bath in public," Weller said. "Any blemish can be heard."
Weller said that's because Mozart composed for much smaller groups of musicians than some of the other great classical composers.
Fewer musicians means any mistakes by individuals will get noticed more easily.
And the Las Vegas Philharmonic will be smaller for the performance. About 50 musicians will perform as opposed to the normal 80.
Aside from Symphony No. 39, the concert will include Mozart's "Serenade in G Major," "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik," and "Concerto for Flute & Harp in C Major," featuring Richard Soule on flute and Kim De Libero on harp.
Weller said one of his earliest memories of Mozart was finding the score to his "Jupiter" symphony and studying it at the bowling ally where his father played.
"Mozart would have loved it," Weller said.
Klein will offer a piano master class at 4 p.m. today at the Music Store, 1881 S. Rainbow Blvd. The session is free and open to the public.
Tickets for the Las Vegas Philharmonic's "Happy Birthday Amadeus! The Mozart Experience" concert range in price from $25 to $66, with a 10 percent discount for senior citizens and students.
Tickets are available by calling 895-2787.
Mulkey's newest jazz CD "My Funny Valentine -- Memories of Chet Baker" will be released this month.
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