Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
1790 was a big year for Joseph Haydn. After decades of service, his role with the Esterházy family changed when the head of the family, Prince Nikolaus, died, and most of the court musicians were let go. Haydn found himself with a small stipend but little to do, so he took up an offer to visit London. He was extremely famous in England but had never visited and it was said that barely a concert went by without his works on the programme. On his way to the UK he visited Bonn, met a young new talent called Beethoven, and completed a set of six quartets.
Written with Hungarian violinist Johann Tost in mind, the set of quartets features prominent first violin parts that were clearly written for his playing style. Tost helped to secure a publisher for the set and therefore the works are now named after him. Number 6 in E-flat major begins with a mellow and thoughtful opening movement that shows Haydn’s mature sound which would flourish further in his ‘London’ symphonies.
Note by Rachel Leach
Performers
Olatz Ruiz de Gordejuela violin
Alix Lagasse violin
Germán Clavijo viola
Salvador Bolón cello
Rachel Leach presenter
#LondonSymphonyOrchestra
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1790 was a big year for Joseph Haydn. After decades of service, his role with the Esterházy family changed when the head of the family, Prince Nikolaus, died, and most of the court musicians were let go. Haydn found himself with a small stipend but little to do, so he took up an offer to visit London. He was extremely famous in England but had never visited and it was said that barely a concert went by without his works on the programme. On his way to the UK he visited Bonn, met a young new talent called Beethoven, and completed a set of six quartets.
Written with Hungarian violinist Johann Tost in mind, the set of quartets features prominent first violin parts that were clearly written for his playing style. Tost helped to secure a publisher for the set and therefore the works are now named after him. Number 6 in E-flat major begins with a mellow and thoughtful opening movement that shows Haydn’s mature sound which would flourish further in his ‘London’ symphonies.
Note by Rachel Leach
Performers
Olatz Ruiz de Gordejuela violin
Alix Lagasse violin
Germán Clavijo viola
Salvador Bolón cello
Rachel Leach presenter
#LondonSymphonyOrchestra
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subscribe to the LSO's channel: bit.ly/LSOsubscribe
Subscribe to LSO newsletter: https://smarturl.it/lsonewsletter
Follow the LSO on:
Instagram: instagram.com/londonsymphonyorchestra
Facebook: facebook.com/londonsymphonyorchestra
TikTok: tiktok.com/@londonsymphonyorchestra
Twitter: twitter.com/londonsymphony
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/london-symphony-orchestra
Website: lso.co.uk
Apple Music: geni.us/yH0sXY
Spotify: spoti.fi/291cCk0
LSO Live: lsolive.lso.co.uk
