The Prague Symphony is Symphony No. 38 by which composer?

• A. Beethoven
• B. Mozart
• C. Haydn
• D. Dvorak

Answer: (B)

The name Prague Symphony refers to a specific work by Mozart, not to a general style or another composer. Mozart’s Symphony No. 38 in D major, K. 504, composed in 1786, earned the nickname Prague because it was premiered in Prague and made a strong impression there. The piece showcases Mozart’s characteristic clarity, spirited melodies, and balanced formal structure, which align with his mature symphonic writing and the tastes of a Prague audience.

Beethoven wrote later, in a different musical era and with distinct stylistic traits. Haydn did compose many symphonies, but this particular No. 38 is not his and is associated with Mozart. Dvořák, a Czech composer, is known for his own symphonies rooted in Czech nationalist flair, but the well-known Prague-linked No. 38 is Mozart’s.