The twelve “London Symphonies” comprise the sublime final statement of Haydn’s symphonic œuvre. They were written for the London impresario Johann Peter Salomon, and Haydn himself conducted their premieres during his lengthy stays in the English metropolis in 1791/92 and 1794/95.

The D-major Symphony no. 104 was composed as the last of the “London Symphonies” in early 1795 and is not only the concluding work, but also the highlight of Haydn’s symphonic output overall. It firmly established th...