Symphony no. 45 F-sharp minor, Hob. I:45

Joseph Haydn's Symphony No. 45 in F-sharp minor, Hob. I:45, famously known as the Farewell Symphony, is one of the composer’s most renowned and inventive works. Composed in 1772 during his tenure at the court of Prince Nikolaus Esterházy, the symphony reflects the situation where Haydn and his musicians were kept away from their families for an extended period. The unique final movement, where musicians gradually leave the stage, was Haydn’s subtle way of signaling to the prince that his musicians longed to return home.

The symphony is written in four movements and is set in the rare key of F-sharp minor, which gives the work a dark and emotionally charged atmosphere. The first movement, Allegro assai, is dramatic and intense, followed by a poignant Adagio in the second movement. The finale, Presto, begins with typical vivacity but then unexpectedly shifts to a slow Adagio. Here, the famous farewell takes place: one by one, the musicians stop playing and leave the stage, until only two violins remain. This extraordinary conclusion marks the Farewell Symphony as a masterpiece of musical wit and sophistication.