Symphony No. 94 in G major, 'The Surprise'

Available for over a year

An instant hit with the London sophisticates, Haydn’s ‘Surprise’ delights with a kaleidoscope of giddy melodies and whimsy. The third movement waltz recalls the frivolity of Austrian folk dances but also the refined ballroom minuet popular with cosmopolitan crowds. "There, the sleeping ladies will jump" Haydn allegedly said to a friend when he saw a score of the 94th Symphony. Always a practical joker, Haydn inserted his ‘Surprise’ in in the second movement, amongst a set of variations on a lullaby. Composer: Joseph Haydn Performers: BBC Symphony Orchestra Conductor: David Robertson Recording date: 24 July 2006 Date of broadcast: 24 July 2006