Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 1756-1791. Symphony No. 31 in D, K. 300a, ``Paris.'' Completed June 12th, 1778, first performance June 18th, 1778, in Paris. Scored for 2 each flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, horns, and trumpets, tympani, and strings.
In the fall of 1777, the young Mozart brashly decided to resign his position with the archbishop of Salzburg, hoping to earn a better living elsewhere. He tried to find appointments in a number of different cities, but his youth was a significant disadvantage and he was repeatedly turned down. Eventually, at the urging of his father, he wound up in Paris, where he hoped that his compositional talents would bring in much-needed extra funds.
The stay in France was not financially successful, however. Mozart did write a number of important pieces, including tonight's symphony, and reported an even greater total in letters home, perhaps to avoid angering his demanding father. But he must have been dissatisfied there, for he turned down the offer of an excellent position as court organist in Versailles and eventually returned to Austria, still lacking in funds.
The ``Paris'' symphony is the only major orchestral composition dating from Mozart's months in that city. Shortly after completing it, he expressed a disdain for the success or failure of the work:
I cannot say whether it will be popular--and, to tell the truth, I care very little, for who will not like it? I can answer for its pleasing the few intelligent French people who may be there--and as for the stupid ones, I shall not consider it a great misfortune if they are not pleased. I still hope, however, that even asses will find something in it to admire.
Considering Mozart's modern popularity, there is more than a little irony in this comment. There were enough ``intelligent French people'' to make the premiere a success, although the work never brought riches to its composer. But two centuries later, it is universally recognized as a superb example of his adventurous and melodious output, and there is no need to question our own facilities as we enjoy his music.
© 1998, Geoff Kuenning
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