THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

Pick a theme... and name your seven favourite examples

- Hannah Nepilova

Oboist-conductor François Leleux narrows down 104 Haydn symphonies to seven terrific highlights

François Leleux is a French oboist and conductor who, at 18, became principal oboe at the Paris Opera. Since then, he has performed with ensembles such as the New York Philharmonic, Budapest Festival Orchestra and Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, while frequently collaborating as a chamber musician – not least with his wife, the violinist Lisa Batiashvili. In tandem, he has developed his career as a conductor, leading ensembles including the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Deutsche Symphonie-Orchester Berlin. In September, he launches his tenure as artistic director of the Kammerakademie Potsdam with a performance of Haydn’s Symphony No. 49, ‘La Passione’.

Symphony No. 49, 'La Passione'

For me, this is the most human and existential of Haydn's symphonies. It’s about life, birth, love, death, asking very fundamental questions like, 'Why are we here on earth?' and 'Why do we feel so much passion?' It demonstrates all the facets of being human, from the slow and questioning opening movement, to the finale, which is full of Sturm und Drang. In between, it reveals the beauty of emotion; the beauty that human beings can create; and the beauty that makes life worth living.

Symphony No. 94, 'The Surprise'