CONCERT INFORMATION

Featuring:
Bernhard Gueller, conductor
Symphony Nova Scotia

On the Program:
Haydn: Symphony No. 104, “London”

Live Post-Concert Q&A with Artist in Residence and Community Ambassador Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, Principal Bass Max Kasper, and Principal Oboe Suzanne Lemieux:

Listen to the full performance of Haydn’s Symphony No. 104 “London”:

Original performance: November 8, 2018, Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Halifax

In November 2018, just months after finishing his highly successful 16-year tenure as Symphony Nova Scotia’s Music Director, Bernhard Gueller returned to Halifax for a powerful, masterful performance of some of his favourite symphonic music. The hit concert concluded with a rousing performance of Haydn’s final symphony, and one of his best – the bright, brilliant “London”.

About the Music
Composed: 1795 / Premiered: 1795, London / Duration: 27 minutes

Haydn spent about three years as the resident Music Director at the palaces of the extremely wealthy princes Esterházy on the border between Austria and Hungary. In 1790, with the accession of a new prince who took little interest in music, the orchestra was disbanded, Haydn was pensioned off, and he seemed ready to retire in Vienna. However, a number of English aristocrats saw to it that Johann Peter Salomon, a connected concert promoter, offered Haydn generous terms to travel to England and lead concerts of his own compositions.

As a result, Haydn visited England twice, in 1791 and again in 1793, for a total of about three years. He was received with great enthusiasm, and among many honours was given a Doctorate of Music by the University of Oxford. (He thought the doctoral robes were hilarious.)

At the end of the 18th century, London was already a great, cosmopolitan city with a well-established middle class. Salomon was an entrepreneur who provided concerts for the entertainment of these well-to-do people, as well as the aristocracy, and he saw to it that Haydn’s part in these concerts was well-advertised and duly reported in the press.

The enterprise was enormously successful, and Haydn became an international celebrity and a rich man. A typical newspaper review reads, “The incomparable Haydn produced an Overture [i.e. a symphony] of which it is impossible to speak in common terms. It is one of the grandest efforts of art that we have ever witnessed. It abounds with ideas, as new in music as they are grand and impressive; it rouses and affects every emotion of the soul.”

Haydn produced 12 symphonies for London. It is a bit puzzling why No. 104 should have acquired the name “London” Symphony. Symphony No. 104 was the last Haydn composed before his return to Austria in 1795. It was performed at a benefit concert on May 4, 1795, perhaps the greatest concert of his life. Some of the finest singers in the world participated, and the proceeds went to Haydn.

Haydn continued to compose actively for many years. He was asked for more symphonies, but this was his final statement in this medium.

“A beautiful performance… Mr. Gueller was right about his high opinion of Haydn.”
– Audience review

“Surprise and delight… just sat back and enjoyed.”
– Audience review