About this episode

Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Joseph Haydn, highlighting his development as a composer and his relationships with other musicians.

This week, Donald Macleod traces the making of Joseph Haydn – from his long years of service to the Eszterházy princes on a remote Hungarian estate to his emergence as one of the most celebrated composers in Europe. Working in relative isolation, Haydn developed a distinctive musical voice while managing opera houses, orchestras and singers, gradually attracting attention far beyond the court. As new freedoms allowed him to publish and sell his music more widely, commissions came from Paris, Spain and London, and friendships in Vienna – most notably with Mozart – reshaped his artistic world. The programmes follow Haydn at a moment of transition, as growing fame sits alongside frustration, ambition and a readiness for change that would soon alter his life completely. Music featured includes: Baryton Trio No. 126: Finale Philemon und Baucis: Triumph, dem Gott der Götter! Il mondo della luna: Overture; Non aver di me sospetto Symphony No. 59 in A major ‘Fire’ Armida: Se pietade avete, oh numi L’isola disabitata: Fra un dolce deliro Symphony No. 60 ‘Il distratto’: Presto Piano Sonata No. 20 in C minor, Hob. XVI:20 Missa Cellensis, Hob. XXII:8: Gloria Il ritorno di Tobia: Anna…

People in this episode

Host: Donald Macleod

Topics covered

• Joseph Haydn
• classical music
• music history
• composition
• cultural influence
• musical transition

Keywords

• Joseph Haydn
• classical composer
• Eszterházy
• Mozart
• music history
• symphonies
• chamber music
• opera
• Vienna

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Eszterházy, Vienna

Books & works: Baryton Trio No. 126, Philemon und Baucis, Il mondo della luna, Symphony No. 59 in A major ‘Fire’, Armida, L’isola disabitata, Symphony No. 60 ‘Il distratto’, Piano Sonata No. 20 in C minor, Hob. XVI:20, Missa Cellensis, Hob. XXII:8, Il ritorno di Tobia

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