Classical: DCCCXLV. MOZART, Wolfgang Amadeus: Symphony #35 in D Major ("Haffner"), K. 385

DCCCXLV. MOZART, Wolfgang Amadeus (1756-1791)

Symphony #35 in D Major ("Haffner"), K. 385 (1782)
1. Allegro con spirito
2. Andante
3. Menuetto
4. Presto
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Bernard Haitink, cond.
(23:20)

The Haffners were a prominent Salzburg family; they helped the Mozarts out in the earlier years. They commissioned a Serenade for the wedding of Haffner the Younger sister's wedding in 1776.

A serenade is background music. They commissioned another one for the ennoblement (Salzburg Bar Mitzvah) of young Sigmund.

Leopold was the one who accepted the commission. When he told his son the "good news," Wolfgang freaked out a little. As usual, he was working on five things at once, but he took up the project and wrote another serenade with a March and two Minuets.

Apparently, he didn't finish it on time for the ennoblement, and Mozart began to reimagine it as a symphony.

Premiered on March 23, 1783 at the Vienna Burgtheater. Hope you have a comfortable chair:

Movements 1-3 of the new symphony;
Aria: Se il padre perdei from Idomeneo;
Piano Concerto #13, K. 415;
Scena: Misera, dove son!, K. 369;
Concertante movements from Serenade, K. 320;
Piano Concerto #5, K. 175;
Scena: Parto, m'affretto from Lucio Silla;

At this point, he improvised a fugue for the Emperor and two sets of variations (K. 398, K. 455) ...

Another aria (The Rondo, K. 416?)
Movement 4 of the symphony

First movement

"To be played with fire!"

A loud unison followed by a perfectly-phrased melody, piano -- with a light cadence back to D ...

The second subject is cradled back and forth by the violins, while the violas play the initial subject.

As in Symphonies #31, 33 and 34, Mozart indicated no repeat sign for the exposition. Haitink takes it anyway ...

The development (above) begins with a strong hint of D Minor, but the music cadences to F-Sharp Major!

Look how Mozart cadences back to D Major, with secondary dominants. The dominant (C-Sharp) resolves to F Minor -- the third degree. With the first subject on top, the harmony is iii / V of iii / V of vi / V of ii / V / I ...

Second movement

G Major Andante.

With the violins playing a steady 16th-note A, the seconds and violas accompany it with a charming flow of 32nd-notes: