Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Symphony No. 40 K 550

Muzio Clementi, who was rather more magnanimous in his praise of Mozart than Mozart was of him --'Until then I had never heard anyone perform with such grace and elegance' -- towards the end of his life made a series of adaptations of the six late symphonies 'newly adapted for the piano forte, with accompaniments for a flute, violin and violoncello' for publication in London. The autograph of Clementi's adaptation of the famous G minor symphony (now in the library of the Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia, Rome) contains two passages which differ from the eventual printed version, together with specific instructions to the printer showing that Clementi was aiming at a prestige publication; in this edition the alternative passages are included, together with the extra eight bars of Andante which appeared in all early editions of this work.