Festival Strings Lucerne - Mozart: Haffner-Serenade KV 250 & Marsch KV 249 (2022)

The Serenade for Orchestra in D major, K. 250/248b, popularly known as the "Haffner-Serenade", was composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart on the commission of Sigmund Haffner Junior in 1776. This Serenade is undoubtedly a jewel among Mozart's Salzburg compositions. The eight-movement work is Mozart's most extensive serenade and also the one with the largest instrumentation, with 13 instruments. Yet it is almost forgotten, or overshadowed, by it's famous Viennese counterpart, the Symphony in D major, K. 385, the "Haffner Symphony", commissioned by Leopold Mozart in the summer of 1781 for the nobilization of Johann Sigmund Haffner.

The first and last movements of the serenade gain additional weight through slow introductions. The first Minuet is remarkably witty. It is embedded in the concerto movements of the Serenade and it is in a minor key against all tradition. This is a charming joke on the part of the composer, for the melody is by no means serious, but a minor variant of a folk song known today as "I'm Märzen der Bauer". The virtuosic solo parts throughout the recording are played by conductor and violinist Daniel Dodds.

Tracklist
1. March for Orchestra in D Major, K. 249 (3:50)
2. Serenade No. 7 in D Major, K. 250/K. 248b "Haffner": I. Allegro maestoso (8:16)
3. Serenade No. 7 in D Major, K. 250/K. 248b "Haffner": II. Andante (9:02)
4. Serenade No. 7 in D Major, K. 250/K. 248b "Haffner": III. Menuetto (3:38)
5. Serenade No. 7 in D Major, K. 250/K. 248b "Haffner": IV. Rondo (7:56)
6. Serenade No. 7 in D Major, K. 250/K. 248b "Haffner": V. Menuetto galante (5:08)
7. Serenade No. 7 in D Major, K. 250/K. 248b "Haffner": VI. Andante (7:34)
8. Serenade No. 7 in D Major, K. 250/K. 248b "Haffner": VII. Menuetto (4:40)
9. Serenade No. 7 in D Major, K. 250/K. 248b "Haffner": VIII. Adagio (9:39)
10. Gerusalemme liberata: Armonia con Capriccio a Violino Solo (5:36)