Symphony No. 94 in G Major

Written in Vienna during 1791, in anticipation of his first visit to London, Symphony No. 94 is the third of Haydn’s “London Symphonies” in compositional order. It was first heard at the Hanover Square Rooms on 23 March 1792, the composer directing from the fortepiano. The “‘Surprise” subtitle derives from the “Largo” in C major, its whimsical melody interrupted by a fortissimo orchestral chord absent from any of the four subsequent variations, which are still diverse in their expressive scope. The first movement proceeds from an “Adagio”, woodwind and strings in ruminative dialogue, to an “Allegro assai” whose principal idea is resourcefully developed before the official development gets under way. Haydn’s transition from “Menuetto” to scherzo in his symphonies feels ever closer with the third movement’s lively “Allegro molto”, while the similarly marked finale exudes a quizzical humour, reinforced by one of Haydn’s most emphatic codas. About Haydn’s “London Symphonies” The huge success of Haydn’s “Paris Symphonies”, published in London in 1788, made it all but inevitable that the city would commission further such works. This task was undertaken by violinist, conductor and impresario Johann Peter Salomon, who duly contacted the composer with the purpose of bringing him to London to perform his latest symphonies. Already acclaimed across Europe, Haydn became a celebrity on his first visit to London, writing six symphonies that were first performed during 1791 and 1792. Their success prompted his second visit in 1794-95, when another six were premiered. After these “London Symphonies”, Haydn turned primarily to oratorios and masses, writing no further symphonies in his final seven years of creativity.