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Wolfgang's response was not encouraging: "Well, I am up to my eyes in work. By Sunday week I have to arrange my opera [Abduction from the Seraglio] for wind instruments, otherwise someone will beat me to it and secure the profits instead of me. And now you ask me to write a new symphony, too! How on earth can I do so? ... Well, I must just spend the night over it, for that is the only way, and to you, dearest father, I sacrifice it. You may rely on having something from me by every post. I shall work as fast as possible and, as far as haste permits, I shall write something good."
The younger Mozart obediently dove into the project, but circumstances conspired against him. Along with his other obligations, he was preparing for the premiere of Seraglio. He was also moving to a new residence and he was due to be married on August 4th. By July 29th, when Haffner's ceremonies took place, Mozart had only finished a portion of the requested work. He sent this single movement off to his father along with an apologetic letter: "You will open your eyes wide when you see that this contains nothing but the first allegro. But I could not help it! I have had to spend one night in rapid composition [of another work], but solely in orchestration (otherwise I could have used it for you, too)." Mozart promised to send several movements in the next few days, but suggested that Leopold might create a complete composition by borrowing movements from a serenade that Wolfgang had previously written for the wedding of Haffner's sister. Whether this advice was followed is unknown, for no record of the event survives. However, Leopold could not have been pleased to receive his son's letter. Not only was the Haffner Symphony incomplete, but also the letter broke to the father news of his son's impending marriage, a marriage to which Leopold strenuously objected.
Although Mozart's complete Haffner Symphony had a belated premiere, it is still one of the composer's most delightful works. Leopold expressed his eventual approval of it, and Wolfgang, on receiving the score by return mail, observed with surprise, "my new Haffner symphony has positively amazed me, for I had forgotten every single note of it. It must surely produce a good effect." He included the symphony on a concert given the following spring. Of the occasion, the young composer wrote to his father, "I do not think it can be necessary for me to write you much about the success of my concert, as you will probably have heard of it already. Enough! The theatre could not possibly have been more fuller and all the boxes were taken. What pleased me most, however, was that his majesty the Emperor was present, was delighted and applauded me loudly." In addition to being a great musical triumph, the symphony was also financially successful. It was published both in Vienna and in Paris, and was later sold to one Prince von F�rstenberg, who was led to believe that he possessed the only copy.