Sometimes the symphonies … are destined to showcase the musicians’ talents” – a music dictionary of the time thus commented on a new genre, the “Symphonie concertante”.
The playful competition between the solo instruments proved very popular with the audience and sparked rivalry between the concert organizers in the music metropolis London: Ignaz Pleyel received a great deal of praise for one such “concertante” and only four weeks later Haydn achieved great fame for Hob. I:105.
This attractive work is now published in piano reduction so that it can be played without orchestral accompaniment. The performing material is published by Bärenreiter.