Symphony in D major (K. 111+120) - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

English Chamber Orchestra conducted by Jeffrey Tate.
I - Allegro assai: 0:00
II - Andante grazioso: 3:09
III - Finale. Presto: 4:29
Mozart's Symphony in D major (K. 111+120) was probably composed in Milan between August and December 1771, during the second travel to Italy by Wolfgang and his father Leopold. The still quite precocious composer was commissioned an opera during his first visit to the city in 1770, for which he finished "Ascanio in Alba". The two-part pastoral opera was a triumphant success when it was performed on October 15 of 1771, during the wedding of Archduke Ferdinand Karl to Maria Beatrice d'Este. Mozart extracted the first two movements of the overture and wrote a new finale, thus creating a new symphony. This practice was not uncommon in the classical era, as the genre of the symphony and the overture were very similar. Premiere date and performers involved are unknown.
Between 1769-73, the young Mozart and his father Leopold made three Italian journeys. The first, an extended tour of 15 months, was financed by performances for the nobility and by public concerts, and took in the most important Italian cities. The second and third journeys were to Milan, for Wolfgang to complete operas that had been commissioned there on the first visit. From the perspective of Wolfgang's musical development, the journeys were a considerable success, and his talents were recognised by honours which included a papal knighthood and memberships in leading philharmonic societies. Wolfgang's Italian triumphs proved short-lived however; he failed to obtain a court position, and despite the critical and popular successes of his Milan operas, he was not invited to write another, and there were no further commissions from any of the other centres he had visited.
Mozart was fifteen years old when he composed "Ascanio in Alba". It was a true baroque opera in which stagecraft and theatrical artifice dominate the development of the drama. In addition, the empress Maria Theresa was directly praised, represented allegorically as Venus who protected her son Ascanio (Archduke Ferdinand) when he married the beautiful Silvia (a reflection of Maria Beatrice of Modena). Thus, it was a work suited to the age and talent of the composer, without dramatic demands, and with the only obligation to assemble a series of choruses, dances, recitatives, dressing each piece in its best musical mantle. The lack of interest in the opera, despite its undeniable musical virtues, can only be explained by the staging costs, general aesthetic changes and the complete dissolution of the Habsburg monarchy after World War I.
The first movement is structured as a sonatina. It begins with a lively and animated main theme in D major, exposed through forte tutti chords contrasted by piano violin figures. The abundant use of tremolos, thrills and abundant use of forte dynamics link the movement with Italian overtures of the time. A more melodic second theme in A major is then introduced by violins, soon in dialogue with oboes and flutes. After a forte and exhilarating climax, we find no real development section. A transition leads us to the recapitulation of the material in the home key of D major, ending with a buoyant coda.
The second movement is monothematic in form. It opens with a lyrical, pastoral main theme in G major, exposed by violins, flutes and oboes in a delicate counterpoint. No development nor contrasting material appear, ending as serenely as it began. The third movement is also written as a sonatina. It begins with a rhythmic and joyful main theme in D major, exposed forte on full orchestra. In contrast, the more melodic second theme in A major is introduced in piano by violins and violas. There is no real development, instead a tremolo transition leads to the recapitulation of the material in the home key of D major. A vigorous coda ends the work.
Picture: Anonymous portrait of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart at the age of 13 in Verona (1770, attributed to Giambettino Cignaroli or Saverio Dalla Rosa).
Musical analysis partially written by myself. Source: tinyurl.com/2a...
To check the score: tinyurl.com/28...