Reviews of Haydn's Work
Newspaper critics in London said:
From 1791: "It is not wonderful that to souls capable of being touched by music,
Haydn should be an object of homage, and even of idolatry; for like our own
Shakespeare, he moves and governs the passions at will … We were happy to see
the concert so well attended the first night; for we cannot suppress our very
anxious hopes that the first musical genius of the age may be induced, by our
liberal welcome, to take up his residence in England."
From 1794: "As usual the most delicious part of the entertainment was a new symphony by Haydn; the inexhaustible, the wonderful, the sublime Haydn! The first two movements were encored; and the character that pervaded the whole composition was heartfelt joy."