Symphony No. 94 in G major "Surprise", Hob. I:94

Haydn's "Surprise" Symphony (1791) is among his most beloved London symphonies, composed for the Salomon concerts and nicknamed for the shocking fortissimo chord in the middle of the otherwise quiet Andante second movement — reportedly inserted to wake any drowsy listeners. Beyond this famous joke, the symphony is a masterpiece of Classical wit and formal ingenuity: the finale's breathless perpetual motion and the first movement's sturdy opening themes demonstrate Haydn at the peak of his orchestral powers. The "Surprise" remains one of the most frequently performed of all 104 Haydn symphonies, beloved for its accessibility and inexhaustible invention.