#peter firth

(Albin Krebs and Robert Mcg. Thomas Jr, The New York Times)

In Philadelphia this week to rehearse with Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra for their concert next Tuesday in New York's Carnegie Hall, James Galway, the flutist, decided it was time to see the play ''Amadeus'' again. The reason is that he is to be the soloist for the orchestra's performance of the Mozart Flute Concerto No. 2 in D, and the play is all about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Mr. Galway had seen it twice in London, but, after all-day rehearsals of the Mozart concerto, he rushed up to New York to see the play Wednesday night. ''Seeing the composer come alive on stage puts me in the proper spirit to play Mozart,'' Mr. Galway told Peter Firth, who plays the composer, in a backstage visit after the performance. "I understand the composer and his music more each time I see the play.'' Mr. Firth had to decline Mr. Galway's invitation to hear him play Mozart, since he'll be playing Mozart himself in his own way at the time, onstage. So Mr. Galway whipped out his flute and gave Mr. Firth a miniversion of the Mozart concerto, right there in the actor's dressing room.