Joseph Haydn's life took a significant turn when he composed his famous London Symphonies between 1791 and 1795. These are sometimes called the Salomon Symphonies, named after Johann Peter Salomon, who brought Haydn to London. The works can be divided into two groups: Symphonies Nos. 93–98, composed during Haydn's first visit to London, and Symphonies Nos. 99–104, which he composed in Vienna and London for his second stay.
Haydn's first stay in England lasted about 18 months and brought him numerous successes, including the premieres of the first six of his twelve London Symphonies. At the end of June 1792, he returned across the English Channel and arrived back in Vienna on July 24. Although Londoners expected the composer's return soon, it was delayed, partly due to the escalating unrest of the French Revolution.
Haydn's first stay in England lasted about 18 months and brought him numerous successes, including the premieres of the first six of his twelve London Symphonies. It wasn't until February 4, 1794, that Haydn embarked on his second, equally triumphant visit to the English capital. During this stay, he witnessed the premieres of his last six symphonies (Nos. 99 to 104). On August 15, 1795, Haydn finally left England after an approximately 18-month stay, which culminated in one of the most successful concerts of his entire career.
In his personal notebook, the composer described his benefit concert of May 4, 1795, at the Haymarket Theatre, which was attended by a select audience. The program included, among other works, parts of the Military Symphony and his twelfth and final English Symphony in D major. Almost every London Symphony, with the exception of No. 95, begins with a slow introduction to the first movement.