Pleyel was one of the most popular and prolific composers in western Europe at the turn of the nineteenth century. This symphony, composed in 1791, represents a grandiose gesture to his teacher Haydn, since the Adagio second movement and the Finale are clearly related to his music. A dramatic first movement and a surprisingly rich Minuet and Trio complete this striking work, written for London's "Professional Concerts" society.

To date, Edition HH has published two Pleyel symphonies as part of the @HAYDN series, the other being a slightly earlier work in C major (Benton 121). Both have been edited by Anton Gabmayer, and the quality of this piece and the high standard of editing make them very welcome. The Consort, Summer 2010