Symphony No. 93 (Haydn)

The Symphony No. 93 in D major (Hoboken 1/93) is the first of the so-called twelve London symphonies (numbers 93-104) written by Joseph Haydn.

It was completed in 1791 as one of the set of symphonies completed for his first trip to London. It was first performed at the Hanover Square Rooms in London on 17 February 1792.

The work is in standard four-movement form and scored for two flutes, two oboes, two bassoons, two horns, two trumpets, timpani and strings.

*I. Adagio - Allegro assai
*II. Largo cantabile
*III. Menuetto. Allegro
*IV. Finale: Presto ma non troppo

Toward the end of the second movement, the music gradually becomes slower and softer until an unexpected eruption of the bassoon brings the music back for the movement's closing. This "rude noise" show's Haydn's sense of humor -- similar to the 2nd movement of the Surprise Symphony. In the fourth movement, the oboe quotes "Viva la libertà" from Mozart's "Don Giovanni". [Andreas Kluge, liner notes for George Szell's recording with the Cleveland Orchestra for Sony Masterworks, on the Essential Classics series.]

Discography

Antony Hodgson identifies George Szell as a conductor who is not afraid to overdo "the vulgarity of this joke" in the slow movement. [Antony Hodgson, "The Music of Joseph Haydn: The Symphonies". London: The Tantivy Press (1976): 128] Szell's Sony Masterworks disc with the Cleveland Orchestra also includes Symphonies No.s 95 and 97. Single CDs generally pair this symphony with one or two other London symphonies.

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