Joseph Haydn lived during the period of the eighteenth century that saw the development of the classical sonata, with its tripartite first-movement form and complementary three or four movements, the basis over succeeding centuries of much instrumental composition. The three symphonies on this recording, which date from 1771–73, demonstrate Haydn’s unerring ability to invest the form with extraordinary variety and vitality. The stately Symphony No. 50, with its use of trumpets and drums, is clearly designed for a festive occasion. The seldom-performed Symphony No. 51 is noteworthy for its fiendishly difficult solo French horn parts, while the dramatic minor-key Symphony No. 52 is characteristic of Haydn’s Sturm und Drang (‘Storm and Stress’) period.