Haydn’s Symphony No. 85, ‘La Reine de France’, belongs to the set of six ‘Paris’ Symphonies, Nos. 82–7, composed in 1785–6 to a commission by the directors of the Concert de la Loge Olympique at the instigation of the Comte d’Ogny and were first performed by that society during the 1787 season. The soubriquet ‘La Reine’ was attached to the work soon after its first performance (and was included in the first edition of printed parts) reflecting its status as a favourite work of Marie Antoinette. ...