Along with Symphonies Nos. 79 and 81, Haydn’s D-minor Symphony Hob. I:80 belongs to a set of symphonies that he completed in late 1784. He wrote them for his employer Prince Nikolaus Esterházy, his task being to entertain the prince with new music. The symphonies had to be suitable for the twenty-five to thirty musicians who were in the prince’s orchestra.

Continuing the cooperation between Bärenreiter and the G. Henle publishing company regarding Haydn’s large choral works, operas and sympho...