Haydn: Symphonies Nos 100 'Military' & 103 'Drum Roll'

"...Tate chooses speeds that allow the wit and sparkle of Haydn's writing to come out naturally." (Gramophone)

In 1790 Haydn's then employer, Prince Nikolaus Eszterházy, died and was succeeded by a thoroughly unmusical prince who dismissed his entire musical establishment and put Haydn on a pension. Thus freed of his obligations, Haydn was able to accept a lucrative offer from Johann Peter Salomon, a German impresario, to visit England and conduct new symphonies with a large orchestra.

The visit (1791-1792]), along with a repeat visit (1794-1795), was a huge success. Audiences flocked to Haydn's concerts, and he quickly achieved wealth and fame: one review called him 'incomparable.' Musically, the visits to England generated some of Haydn's best-known work, including the London Symphonies, a group of twelve that were to be the last of his 104.

Jeffrey Tate's acclaimed recordings of Haydn's London Symphonies are now being released on Encore. Nos.96, 98 & 93 are already available on 0946 3 41424 2 7 (D & T version)/0946 3 41428 2 3 (Angel version); also available are Nos.94, 95 & 97 on 0946 3 55678 2 3 (D & T)/0946 3 55679 2 2 (Angel). The present release is the third with two more to follow in future Encore releases.