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.
An exclusive bonus track of this album is the world premiere recording of Armonia con Capriccio by Vicenzo Righini (1756 -1812) which has never been recorded in this particular version. The Italian Righini was contemporary of Mozart and a successful tenor, bandmaster and composer in his day. The track is a beautiful piece for violin and orchestra from his opera Gerusalemme liberata ossia Armida al campo de' franchi. © Sony Classical