Classical Hour
Giovanni Antonini Joseph Martin Kraus
Joseph Haydn

In Stockholm and London, two composers created works that have retained their power through the centuries. Kraus's Olympie overture reveals a composer who dared to give his emotions free rein, while Haydn's farewell symphony is a prime example of why he is called the father of the symphony today.

Kraus: Olympie Overture

"Kraus was the first genius I met," Joseph Haydn is said to have remarked after hearing Joseph Martin Kraus's (1756–1792) Symphony in C minor. Kraus's music is fiercely passionate, and the same is true of the overture to the opera Olympie.

Olympie was written for the Swedish court theatre in the late 18th century. The overture sets the stage for what is to unfold in the opera. Kraus composes in strict classical form, but with a more emotionally charged style than Haydn and Mozart. Some therefore argue that Kraus clearly foreshadows hallmarks of the Romantic era. The Olympie overture is not often performed, but it is a dramatic and captivating work.

Haydn: Symphony No. 104 "London"

When Joseph Haydn (1732–1809) arrived in London in the early 1790s, he was received like a rock star. He composed twelve symphonies for the London audience. The last of these, No. 104, has been given the nickname "London" and was performed in 1795 as part of Haydn's farewell concert as a composer in London. It was met with rapturous applause and enthusiasm.

Haydn is known today as the father of the symphony, because he gave it form, structure, drama, and musical wit. Symphony No. 104 is a prime example of what Haydn did for the symphony.