Olympic Paris

"Haydn’s 104 symphonies are all fantastic, original, full of incredible fantasy, and careful work brings out the true radicalism of this writing," explained Douglas Boyd, a formidable pioneer. Commissioned in 1785 by the Count of Ogny for the prestigious Concert of the Parisian Olympic Lodge, Symphony n° 87 is one of six so-called “Parisian” symphonies that Haydn composed far from Paris, in the Hungarian Palace of Esterháza (which however is proud of a sumptuous French garden). It was there too that he composed Il Mondo della Luna, an opera-bouffe inspired by Goldoni. Later, the Symphonie concertante belongs to the master's London period and will be celebrated by a dazzled critic from its premiere across the Channel.