Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

Conductor: Bohm, Karl

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Composer: Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus

Symphony No. 41 in C major, K. 551, "Jupiter"

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Venue: Grosser Musikvereinssaal, Vienna

Date of Concert: 1973

Playing Time: 00:28:43

Television Director: Kach, Hugo

Producer: Hohlfeld, Horant

Catalogue Number: A04500067

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Filmed mainly in Vienna's splendid Musikvereinssaal, the Mozart symphonies conducted by Karl Bohm are all interpreted by one of the world's foremost orchestras, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, whose principal conductors have included Wilhelm Furtwangler, Bruno Walter, Herbert von Karajan, Claudio Abbado and, of course, Karl Bohm. "Thanks to Bruno Walter's exemplary performances, particularly of Mozart's works, I grabbed on to Mozart and fell in love with him so much that I had only one wish: to conduct Mozart, Mozart, Mozart" (Karl Bohm).

Mozart's last symphony is a solemn and formal work which looks back to the past more than its two fellow works K. 504 and 550. It contains strong reminiscences of Baroque forms like the fugue and the concerto grosso in its opposition of clear-cut themes and the interplay of solo and tutti groups. Particularly the last movement is one of the most impressive in symphonic literature because of its unique blend of melodic flow and "scholarly" fugal treatment. Although not truly a fugue, the movement incorporates some exciting imitative work. The theme was well known and often used in the 18th century. Mozart himself used it in two of his masses and in the Symphony, K. 319. The "Jupiter" Symphony, a truly Olympian work, must be viewed together with the two preceding symphonies as Mozart's final word in a genre he raised to heights never before attained.

Karl Bohm was universally acclaimed for his Mozart interpretations. Though Wagner was one of Bohm's first loves, his friendship with Richard Strauss led to a deep knowledge and appreciation of Mozart. In his autobiography, Bohm wrote that "Richard Strauss revealed to me the ultimate secrets of this, in my opinion, greatest of all musical geniuses, Mozart." Bohm's discovery of these secrets transformed his Mozart interpretations into unforgettable events.