Unfortunately over-enthusiastic youtubers' lack of knowledge prevents
some from providing us with important details like dates of performances
and names of orchestras. In this case, all we know about the above
performance is that the conductor is the Dutch Hubert Soudant.
One other interesting item (unexplained by the above youtube poster) is the
"Hoboken 1/87" reference. Anthony Hoboken a Dutch collector and musicologist:
is best known for his J. Haydn, Thematisch-bibliographisches Werkverzeichnis (published 1957), or Hoboken-Verzeichnis, a catalogue of the compositions of Joseph Haydn. Haydn's works are often referred to by their "Hoboken number" (usually abbreviated to "Hob" or just "H"), taken from this catalogue.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In these strange days of interminable cold days, and promises (at least here in Toronto) of even worse snow storms for February, there is always music. Here is one of Haydn's symphonies from the "Paris" collection (No. 82-87).
The one above is no. 87, the sixth and last. It interesting that the first and last movements are a lively Vivace, which add to the light and cheerful overall tone of the symphony, portraying a glittering and confident Paris. The Adagio has lovely, open and fresh French horns, and the unlikely combinations of flutes and oboes. Bassoons gently fill in the melodies. Although slower, this second movement still has a joyful, optimistic air, aided by the major key. The Minuet is sprightlier (and livelier) still.
One thing I've always loved about watching (and listening) to orchestras is the movements of the musicians, and of course the conductor. There is always a ballet going on as musicians position their bows and bodies ready to strike a note, and some moving (movingly) to the music. The first violinist is especially exuberant in the above video - but, he is also partly the leader, and has to set the tone for the rest of the orchestra.
The conductor's movements are as important as his "metronome", and Soudant's especially inspired movements help the musicians to add vigor and dynamism to the mechanical 2/2, 3/4 and 4/4 beats. We normally can't see this from the audience, but a flurry of hands seen from behind transmit that energy to us.