Piano Concerto No. 26 in D major, K. 537 “Coronation Concerto” – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Piano Concerto No. 26 in D major, K. 537 “Coronation Concerto” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Mozart completed this concerto for piano and orchestra in February of 1788, with the first recorded performance taking place in April the following year. The nickname ‘Coronation Concerto’ was not given to the work by Mozart and indeed was not given to the work until 1790, two years after composition.

On the 30th of September 1790, Leopold II, the Grand Duke of Tuscany, was elected to the position of Holy Roman Emperor. The same year he would also be coronated King of Hungry, of Bohemia, and Archduke of Austria. The coronation ceremony for Leopold was held on the 9th of October 1790 in Frankfurt, and would include a concert by Mozart of his own work. At this concert, Mozart would perform his piano concerto No. 19 and his piano concerto No. 26.

Despite not originally being composed to accompany the coronation of the new Holy Roman Emperor, the nickname would become affixed to the work.

This concerto is comprised of three movements:
I. Allegro
II. Larghetto
III. Allegretto