Sinfonie Nr. 45 Fis-Moll & Sinfonie Nr. 49 F-Moll

This 1984 release on the His Master's Voice label features two of Joseph Haydn's most emotionally intense middle-period symphonies, the 'Farewell' (No. 45) and 'La Passione' (No. 49). These works belong to Haydn's Sturm und Drang period, characterized by minor keys, sudden dynamic shifts, and an almost turbulent sense of drama. By the time this pressing was released, these symphonies had long been cemented in the canon as quintessential examples of Haydn's ability to bridge the elegance of the Baroque with the emerging emotional depth of the Classical era.

The recordings feature the Bath Festival Orchestra under the direction of Yehudi Menuhin, a violinist and conductor renowned for his expressive, humanistic approach to the repertoire. Menuhin’s interpretation of these works is marked by a lean, articulate clarity that avoids the heavy-handed romanticism sometimes applied to mid-18th-century compositions. The release was part of a broader effort by major labels in the 1980s to reissue and highlight high-quality mid-century orchestral performances for a new generation of listeners, showcasing Menuhin's meticulous attention to the balance and interplay of the strings.