Meeting Mozart with pianist Simon Tedeschi at the Canberra Theatre

Pianist Simon Tedeschi will don a wig and 18th-century-style clothes to play one of the greatest composers of all time. He's taking on the persona of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in Meeting Mozart, which comes to the Canberra Theatre on Saturday.

"It's classical music for kids - specifically an introduction to Mozart," says Tedeschi, who will be joined on stage by Michelle Doake as Mozart's wife Constanze and five string instruments to showcase some of the works of the composer in an accessible way by focusing on what the pianist calls "the joy of Mozart".

He says, "It shows the prankster and jokester and the natural affection Mozart had for his wife and for the mass of humanity - these are all things that come across in Mozart's music."

The story is that Mozart and Constanze are preparing for duet - "his wife's a soprano, he's the accompanist" - but it's not going too smoothly.

"The portrayal of Mozart was inspired by his childlike side - he has a mischievous streak but also has a capacity to love.

"It's showing kids the many ways genius can be different and something to celebrate."

And sprinkled throughout there's plenty of Mozart's music, including Variations on Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Turkish March (Rondo alla Turca) and tunes from The Magic Flute.

Tedeschi says the show is aimed at very young children whose reactions range widely but are mostly positive. He says they've done it in Sydney and in China and the tunes are more often recognised iby the children n the latter country, particularly the Turkish March.

The show wlll be followed by an informal meet and greet in the foyer where kids can get up close with the string instruments.

Meeting Mozart will be having another tour of China in late May but before that Tedeschi has another Canberra gig, this time for grown-ups, at the Canberra International Music Festival: he will team up with actor John Bell to perform Richard Strauss's Enoch Arden.