Symphony No. 23 (Mozart)

The genre of the symphony was key in the Classical period, becoming the most important genre of instrumental music. Multiple musical local traditions existed in Europe at the time, which Mozart absorbed during his travels through most of Western Europe. In the Mozart family grand tour from between 1763 and 1766, Wolfgang wrote around 15 symphonies, many of which have not been preserved. More symphonies were written during Mozart's stays in Vienna (1767–68) and Italy (1769–71).^[2]

The symphony was completed on 19 May 1773,^[3][4] being part of a group of four (No. 22, 24 and 26) written shortly after the return from the third travel to Italy.^[5] According to Saint-Foix, these symphonies may have been commissioned by a Milanese patron.^[6]

According to musicologist Neal Zaslaw, the symphony found success at the time, as sets of parts were found in the cities of Brno, Frankfurt and Regensburg. These copies also modified the scoring of the piece; viola parts were reduced to a single one and the trumpets were removed in the parts found in Brno and Frankfurt, while the Regensburg ones had the possibility of oboes being replaced by flutes.^[7] The original 1773 autograph is located at the Morgan Library & Museum in New York.^[2]

The symphony follows the overall tripartite structure of the Italian overture,^[8] divided in three movements that are played continuously (attacca)^[4]

French musicologist and Mozart scholar Georges de Saint-Foix praised the piece, making a favourable comparison against the surrounding ones in the catalogue; Symphony No. 22, K. 162 and Symphony No. 24 K. 182.^[8] British musicologist Stanley Sadie also praised the symphony as "full of brilliant writing and 'effective' passages, built up into an elegantly and logically shaped edifice".^[9]

Most recordings of the symphony are as part of complete recording projects of Mozart's symphonies.