Sigiswald Kuijken, La Petite Bande - Haydn: Symphonies 93 - 94 & 95 (1994)

The Surprise Symphony was, before the Mozart craze of the early 1990s, the most famous piece of classical music after Beethoven's Fifth, and if it gets into some feature film it could well regain it's former position. It says something for Haydn's ability to write consistently interesting and witty music that the most popular, "named" part in a symphony (this one included) is likely to be the slow movement. In other words, Haydn is often at his most entertaining just when other composers are putting you to sleep. Symphony No. 93 also has a surprise in its slow movement--a highly scatological comment from the bassoon at the very end, followed by what can only be described as orchestral laughter. Listen for yourself and see if you don't agree! --David Hurwitz