The next year, on 3 December, Mielck experienced the greatest moment of his career when the Berlin Philharmonic, one of the world's most acclaimed orchestras, played his symphony.

[7] Upon returning home to Viipuri (Vyborg) in 1896, Mielck began composing his symphony between concert appearances as a pianist,[6] completing it in the autumn of 1897.

[2] Mielck's symphony received its premiere on 20 October 1897[8] during a composition concert at the Ceremonial Hall of the Imperial Alexander's University of Finland, Robert Kajanus conducting the Helsinki Orchestral Society (which he had founded in 1882).

3; 1897), for two violins, two violas, and cello (performed by Gregorowitsch, Kihlman, Sante, Röllig, and Fischer), as well as Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor (1868), with Mielck serving as soloist.

[10] Kajanus and crew repeated the symphony at the same venue four days later on the afternoon of 24 October; this time, no other compositions by Mielck were programmed, but he was nonetheless on hand to play solo piano pieces by other composers.

[8] Also on the program was Grieg's Piano Concerto, with Mielck as soloist, and the String Quintet in F major (Novácèk, Dörner, Bröckl, Eiben, and Nast).