Relayed from the National Museum of Wales

National Orchestra of Wales

Mozart's last three Symphonies, and, by common consent, his greatest three, were written in less than two months, at a time near the end of his life when he was in poverty, and suffering from what he described to a friend as 'gloomy thoughts,' which, he said, he 'must repel with all his might.' The Jupiter, which we are now to hear, is one of those last Symphonies. Why Jupiter Mozart never called it that. But somebody, apparently, thought it expressed lofty, godlike qualities, and so gave it this name, which is surely not inapt.
There are four Movements - (1) Quick and spirited; (2) Slow, soft, and song-like; (3) A gay little Minuet; (4) A Finale, rising to a dazzling climax.

Faust and Mephistopheles, taking a walk abroad, come to a village inn where the folk are dancing after a wedding. Faust instantly falls in love with one of the girls, and Mephistopheles urges him to ask her for a dance. Taking a fiddle from one of the players, the Evil One declares he will show them how to play. His wild playing sets everyone dancing madly, Faust with his lady amongst them. In the midst of the excitement the two dance out through the open door, and slip away to the woods pursued by the sound of Mephistopheles' demoniac fiddling.

S.B. from Swansea

(9.30 Local Announcements)
(to 0.00)