Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart “Divertimento in D Major”, K.136

Conducted by Music Director, Peter Stafford Wilson

1772 was the year 16 year old Mozart wrote 7 of his 41 symphonies.  He had just returned from a trip to Italy with his father where he had been commissioned to write a serenata for the wedding of Archduke Ferdinand and Beatrice D’Este, one of the grandest weddings of the 18th century.  It was a great success and then 1772 brought a year at home for composing. In addition to his symphonies Mozart wrote three divertimenti.  Lots of composers wrote divertimenti in the 1700’s, but they were largely minor works meant for background music at social functions. Mozart, showing early signs of his genius, elevates the divertimento to the complexity found in ever growing popularity of the fairly new artform: the symphony. The three divertimenti from 1772 are often called his “Salzburg Symphonies”.  The Divertimento in D, K136 is a delightful work that can be played by either a full string ensemble or a string quartet.

We hope you enjoy the Mozart, and thank you for your ongoing support of the Westerville Symphony.

Enjoy More Recorded Performances From Our
2021 Spring String Series
Conducted by Peter Stafford Wilson