WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART (1756-1791)
Symphony No. 41, K. 551, Jupiter (1788)
Mozart finished his Symphony No. 40 in late July, 1788; a mere 16 days later, he had completed the present Symphony No. 41—an amazing achievement by any measure. Aptly nicknamed for the king of the gods (probably by the impresario Johann Peter Salomon), his last symphony would set a crown upon his symphonic output. It is one of the illustrious trio of symphonies, No. 39, 40, and 41, composed by Mozart in 1788. We’re plunged immediately into the spirited first movement, with trumpets and drums punctuating the proceedings. Two elegant inner movements ultimately give way to a magnificent finale. Mozart had become acquainted with Johann Sebastian Bach’s music in around 1782, and was particularly fascinated by his fugues. In the last movement of the “Jupiter” he pays homage to the old master, while at the same time showing off his own command of the fugue. It would be a head-spinning exercise to try to explain the interplay of the six intersecting themes; but in the coda they are heard in brilliant profusion in five-part counterpoint until they all come together in a dazzling finale. Suffice it to say, that hearing is believing in Mozart’s genius and is exuberant proof of his mastery of the symphonic form.

Daniel Boico, the newly appointed New York Philharmonic Assistant Conductor, will lead all of the Philharmonic's Young People's Concerts in the 2009-10 season. Mr. Boico made his New York Philharmonic debut on January 23, 2009, conducting an Inside the Music program.

Mr. Boico has served as music director of the Skokie Valley Symphony Orchestra, Illinois, and the Skokie Concert Choir, as well as conductor of the Elgin Youth Symphony Philharmonia and as an assistant conductor to Cliff Colnot of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. He was visiting professor and director of orchestras at Grand Valley State University, Michigan, a cover conductor for the Milwaukee Symphony, and an apprentice conductor with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, where he worked closely with and was assistant to music director Daniel Barenboim, principal guest conductor Pierre Boulez, Zubin Mehta, and other visiting artists.

Born in Israel and raised in Paris and the United States, Daniel Boico studied with and assisted Russian professor Ilya Musin at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. A prize winner at the Prokofiev and Pedrotti conducting competitions, Mr. Boico has led numerous orchestras, including the Moscow Philharmonic, Novosibirsk Philharmonic, Perm Opera and Ballet, Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, Taipei Symphony Orchestra, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, La Orquesta Filarmónica de la UNAM and the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional in Mexico City. In August 2000 he made a world premiere recording of Nino Rota’s cello concertos with cellist Dimitry Yablonsky and I Virtuosi Italiani for the Chandos label.

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THEODORE WIPRUD, host of Young People’s Concerts, born in 1958 in Washington, DC
Theodore Wiprud is a composer and educator who currently serves as Director of Education at the New York Philharmonic. His music, noted for harmonic richness, innovative form, and intense expression, frequently deals with spiritual experience.

As an innovative concert producer, Mr. Wiprud has created stimulating programs of recent music such as the Brooklyn Philharmonic’s acclaimed series, Music Off The Walls at the Brooklyn Museum. As an educator, he has introduced thousands of students to living composers and their craft. Mr. Wiprud’s responsibilities at the New York Philharmonic include the Young People’s Concerts, the Very Young People’s Concerts, the pioneering School Partnership Program, a growing array of adult education programs, and a close partnership with the New York City Department of Education to train music teachers throughout the city.

Theodore Wiprud’s music is published by Allemar Music. He earned his A.B. in Biochemistry at Harvard and his M.Mus. in Theory and Composition at Boston University. He studied at Cambridge University as a Visiting Scholar. His principal composition teachers have been David Del Tredici and Robin Holloway.

Find additional upcoming performances with Theodore Wiprud