Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Symphony No. 41 in C major, K. 551 - Jupiter Symphony

In the summer of 1788, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791) composed his 41st symphony – it was to be his longest and last. The so-called Jupiter Symphony was completed by the exceptional talented on August 10, 1788, just four years before his untimely death, while he was still mourning the recent death of his daughter Theresia. The 30-minute piece for flute, oboe, bassoon, horn, trumpet, timpani, violin, viola, cello, and double bass was especially appreciated at the beginning of the 19th century, but the composer didn't get to see that happen. The work was particularly celebrated in London, where the nickname “Jupiter Symphony” quickly spread, probably coined by concert organizer Johann Peter Salomon (1745–1815). The work was soon regarded as one of the most successful pieces of symphonic music and a climax of Mozart's symphonic oeuvre. Fortunately, the autograph of this extraordinary creation has been preserved and is now kept in the Berlin State Library.