Of the one hundred seven symphonies written by Franz Josef Haydn, the "Paris" symphonies, numbers 82 through 87, display some of his most engaging writing. The symphonies, commissioned by the young French nobleman Comte d'Ogny, written over the years 1785-86. This was a fruitful time for the composer, whose fame was acknowledged throughout all of Europe and whose popularity was at its peak. Comte d'Ogny was the founder of the Paris-based music society, Concert de la Loge olympique. The society's orchestra was one of the grandest in all of Europe and this clearly inspired Haydn.
The symphonies are wonderfully inventive and feature some of Haydn's finest inspirations. For example, the Symphony No. 85 contained a set of variations on an old French folk tune, while No. 83 nicknamed "La Poule" (the Hen), featured a clucking theme. The Orchestra of the Age of the Enlightenment perform these works on period instruments recreating the sound the Parisian audiences enjoyed. The gut strings are warm and mellow, while the winds are pungent and incisive. Sigiswald Kuijken leads the ensemble in performances that are witty and energetic.

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