Mozart wrote the 13 symphonies reprinted in this volume in Salzburg and Paris from 1773 to 1780. A number of the earlier works are Italianate in inspiration, in three-movement form, with brisk figures and simple textures. Two of these — Symphony No. 25 in G Minor (the "Little G Minor") and Symphony No. 29 in A Major — display emerging powers that clearly mark the young composer's rise from musical prodigy to great composer.
Mozart's visits to Munich, Mannheim, and Paris enriched his musical experience, and the later symphonies from these years reveal his growing command of international styles. At whatever moment these masterworks arose in Mozart's musical development, each bears the unmistakable stamp of his genius. Some are among the most performed and recorded works in the orchestral repertoire. All are reprinted here from the authoritative complete-works edition published by Breitkopf & Härtel.