Franz Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No. 45 in F-sharp Minor (“Farewell”), Performed by the Russian State Academic Symphony Orchestra (Svetlanov Symphony Orchestra), Directed by Vladimir Jurowski

“Haydn was often called ‘Papa Joe’ or ‘Papa Haydn’ by his students and fellow musicians, because he was so kind and like a father to them,” writes Stephanie Parker, going on to explain the symphony’s first performance and how it earned its nickname — Franz Joseph Haydn and the Farewell Symphony:

Prince Nicholas was enjoying himself and then the orchestra stopped suddenly. After a brief pause, the musicians began playing a slow, sad tune. This kind of thing just wasn’t done in symphonies during the Classical Era of classical music and the prince knew it.

The prince was still trying to figure out what was going on when two musicians unexpectedly stood up, closed their music, blew out their candles, and left the stage.

Prince Nicholas was totally shocked! He was thinking, “What in the world is happening?” When he was just about to say something, another musician stood, closed his music, blew out his candle, and walked off the stage.

A few bars of music later, another musician left… followed shortly after by another musician. This continued to happen as one by one they left the stage. Finally, there was only Papa Haydn and Tomasini. They were playing a slow duet. Then like all of the others, they stood, closed their music, blew out their candles, and left the dark stage.