Symphony No.13 in F major - Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Northern Chamber Orchestra conducted by Nicholas Ward.
I - Allegro: 0:00
II - Andante: 3:56
III - Menuetto: 8:35
IV - Molto allegro: 10:56
Mozart's Symphony No.13 was composed in Milan between October and November 1771, during the second travel to Italy by Wolfgang and his father Leopold. It may have been premiered in a private concert in Milan on November 22/23 of 1771, performed for Albert Michael von Mayr, the treasurer of Archduke Ferdinand Karl, son of Empress Maria Theresa and governor of Lombardy. The minuet may also have been written earlier, and latter added on as often happened. Overall, the symphony is broadly described as the last of the conventional early symphonies by Mozart. The composer was beginning to expand the symphony (alongside Haydn) into a larger, more expressive and ambitious genre.
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.
The first movement is structured in sonata form. It begins with a lively and animated main theme in F major, with forte tutti chords contrasted by piano violin phrases. This opening is very similar as the Symphony in C major (K. 96) and Symphony No.12. A virtuoso transition with thrills and tremolos, lead us into the more melodic second theme in C major, exposed in piano by violas and oboes with violin interjections. This exposition is then repeated. In the ensuing development, the themes are transformed while modulating through the keys. Another tremolo transition takes us to the recapitulation of the materials in the home key of F major. There is an optional repeat from the development forward. A firm coda ends the movement.
The second movement is also written in sonata form, being scored for solo strings. It opens with an elegant main theme in B-flat major, presented by violins in piano. It is followed by a second theme that is equally graceful and in the same key. This exposition is then repeated. The development is focused on the main theme, modulating through the keys in a chromatic downwards motion. The recapitulation then brings the material in the home key of B-flat major. This section is also repeated, ending the movement in a restrained way.
The third movement is a minuet in ternary form. It begins with a two part, smooth and elegant main theme in F major, exposed forte by violins and oboes and marked by its triplet rhythm. Each part is repeated. The central trio section is scored for solo strings, bringing a more melodic second theme in C major in piano, introduced by violins also divided in two parts that are repeated. The minuet is then reexposed in its entirety, ending the movement with a graceful charm. The minuet was copied by Leopold while the trio was by Mozart, as noticeable in the viola parts. Thus, there is a small possibility that Leopold actually wrote the minuet.
The fourth movement is structured as a rondo (A-B-A-C-A-Coda). It opens with a lively and rhythmic main theme in F major, exposed forte by full orchestra. After it is repeated, the first episode consists of ascending and descending violin phrases in countermovement, followed by a tremolo passage with added chromaticism and octave jumps. The main theme is then repeated, leading us to the more substantial second episode. It introduces a slow, dance-like second theme in D minor that is divided in two sections, which are promptly repeated. After final recapitulation of the main theme, an exciting coda ends the entire 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/2y...
To check the score: tinyurl.com/22...

[@CaminoAir]

Merry Christmas and thanks, Sergio.

[@SergioCánovasCM]

@@CaminoAir Happy holidays too!

[@SergioCánovasCM]

@@CaminoAir Also, what is your opinion of the cycle so far? Any Symphony you particularly liked?