Concerts across the world are planned to honor Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who was born in 1756 and remains perhaps the most popular classical composer of all time.

Some of the key events in the world's biggest birthday party are being filmed as part a mammoth television project dubbed 24hours Mozart to be broadcast to 25 countries throughout the day from Vienna.

Tribute concerts are planned throughout Japan, mainly in Tokyo, where Flute and Harp Concerto C Major, KV 299 will be performed at 8pm tomorrow, the time of his birth.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Nippon Mozart Kyokai (Japan Mozart Society) will hold a concert, entitled "Ensemble Amadeus Metropolitan," with internationally renowned musicians including flautist Yumiko Sakuma and harpist Naoko Yoshino.

In Beijing, a Mozart concert will be held today at the People's Liberation Army Opera House, while Austrian musicians will be brought in to perform in the capital, as well as Shanghai and Hangzhou through to October.

Tomorrow, piano phenomenon Lang Lang will give a performance of the Piano Concerto No24 in the Forbidden City Concert Hall.

Tomorrow at dusk, the Sydney Symphony Orchestra will strike up Eine Kleine Nachtmusik from a barge moored in the harbor.

In Bangkok, music schools wrap up a series of nine free Mozart concerts tomorrow at the city's new luxury mall Siam Paragon.

Events are planned around the globe all year, culminating with the Festival of Salzburg from July 24 to the end of August, when 22 of Mozart's works will be presented.

In the composer's hometown of Salzburg, a day of music on the streets will start with a concert at the Mozarteum. A special exhibition, "Viva Mozart," is also to be inaugurated.

In the evening, Ricardo Muti will conduct a special Mozart concert given by the Wiener Philharmoniker.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE