Haydn’s Symphony No. 94 was first performed on 23 March 1792 at the Hanover Square Rooms under the direction of Salomon as concertmaster with the composer himself at the fortepiano. The work was an instant success and soon became – and remains – one of Haydn’s most popular symphonies.

The soubriquet “Surprise” was attached to the work very early on, and was prompted by the unexpected forte chord (reinforced by the Timpani stroke) in bar 16 of the Andante. In German-speaking countries the symp...