BBC Philharmonic Orchestra 2025-26 Season Schubert’s ‘Unfinished’

Who knew Haydn and hot cross buns might be related? “The Father of the Symphony”, Haydn’s staggering 104 symphonies are a legacy of brilliance. His final work, Symphony No. 104, known as The London Symphony, first dazzled audiences in 1795. Some have linked its finale to London street tunes, but its melodic roots lie in Haydn’s Austro-Croatian heritage, not the bakery aisle. We then descend into darker corners with Schubert’s Symphony No. 8, known as his ‘Unfinished Symphony’, with only two movements, this piece takes the listener on an emotional journey that feels altogether complete.