Haydn, Joseph. (1732–1809)
Autograph Signature on Concert Ticket for Premiere of Symphony 97
A rare autograph signature ("Haydn"), on a printed concert ticket for "Dr. Haydn's Night," held on May 3, 1792 in London at the Hanover Square Rooms. Ticket number ("187") written at lower left, presumably also in Haydn's hand. 12 x 8 cm [3 x 4 1/2 inches]; horizontal fold with short closed separation at left edge, inlaid. Rare. While Haydn authorised the publications of some of his works with his stamp or signature, we have located no other examples of signed tickets of this type being offered in over thirty years of auction records or on the market. Matted together with an original stipple engraving (18 x 25 cm) of the composer composing at a keyboard, by the French printmaker Antoine Louis Francois Sergent-Marceau (1751 - 1847)."Haydn Nights," small concerts whose proceeds went to Haydn, were held during the composer's trips to London in 1791-92 and 1794-95. The fifth of the so-called twelve London Symphonies (numbers 93-104), Haydn's Symphony No. 97 in C major, Hoboken I/97 was most likely premiered at the present concert. First published in England, it made its way to the continent a few years later and was used by Ludwig van Beethoven as a model for a symphony in C major he never completed. (11366)
Signature Classical Music