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Discovering Music on Sunday 5th April devoted 90 minutes to two wonderful later works by Haydn, the and the . Stephen Johnson is always a very perceptive guide in this programme strand and with the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳PO, they explore this fine work written towards the end of the composer's first London visit. The premiere was on 2nd March 1792. conducted, and, as a well-known harpsichordist, also performed (actually on a fortepiano) the unexpected 11-bar keyboard solo in the finale just as Haydn himself did at the premiere. No one knows quite why he added this feature, so any ideas would be more than welcome.

Also in the same programme, the fortepianist played the Variations in F minor. One of Haydn's last works for solo keyboard, it is a magisterial set of variations based on his favourite model, in which major and minor alternate. The last pages are an astonishing coda, extending the scope and harmonic range of the music well beyond the good-mannered conventions of the genre.

At 2.00 pm through the first part of the week, the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳PO are the featured orchestra, reprising performances of under Kraemer on Monday, the curious Overture: Windsor Castle conducted by Grant Llewellyn on Tuesday, and in G on Wednesday.

Finally, in Holy Week, there is nearly always a chance to hear some of The Seven Last Words. I shall definitely be listening out for the rather enterprising choice of items for string quartet/fortepiano/orchestra by Sarah Walker in Classical Collection on Maundy Thursday, April 9 at 10.08 am.

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