Directed by Sydney Phasey
from the New Victoria Cinema, Bradford
With the Holiday-Makers

Conductor, William Pethers
from the Hippodrome Theatre, Coventry

Leader, Alfred Barker
Conducted by Arnold Perry
Haydn spent some of the happiest years of his life as Kapellmeister in the service of the princely house of Esterhazy, but one serious drawback from the musicians' point of view was that service with the Prince meant for most of the orchestral players enforced exile from their own homes and families. That was the origin of the ' Farewell' Symphony. At its first performance, as the music neared its end, the players rose up one by one, and each in turn blew out the candle on his desk and stole on tip-toe from the room, until the very last notes were played only by two violins. It used to be thought that Haydn meant this as an appeal to his Prince against the proposed dismissal of the players from his chapel, but it is now agreed that the idea was rather to give a broad hint that it was time the players were allowed to go home and see their families. The hint was taken in the kindliest spirit and Haydn gained his object. 'If everybody else is going away, we may as well go, too ', said the Prince. Even without that little jest, the symphony is delightfully fresh and melodious music, typical of Haydn's boundless good humour and bright spirits.

from the Pump Room,
Leamington Spa