Die Londoner Sinfonien VI - Sinfonie Nr. 103 Es-dur (Mit Dem Paukenwirbel), Sinfonie Nr. 104 D-dur (Mit Dem Dudelsack)

Released under the ETERNA label, this recording features Joseph Haydn’s final two symphonies, No. 103 'Drumroll' and No. 104 'London.' These works were composed during Haydn’s successful visits to London in the 1790s, where he was celebrated as a master of the classical form. The album represents a period of East German cultural production where the Dresden Philharmonic, under the baton of Günther Herbig, aimed to provide authoritative, high-fidelity interpretations of the Austro-German symphonic canon.

Günther Herbig’s approach to these symphonies reflects a disciplined, middle-European tradition that prioritizes structural clarity and rhythmic precision. As the primary state-owned label in the German Democratic Republic, ETERNA maintained high recording standards to showcase the prowess of state orchestras. This specific pressing is part of a broader series that documented the Dresden Philharmonic's extensive repertoire, serving both as an archival record of the ensemble's versatility and as a staple of classical music collections within the Eastern Bloc.