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Donald Macleod focuses on Prince Nicolaus Eszterhazy's expansion of his palace, including a large opera house, for which Haydn had to provide music.

All this week, Donald Macleod explores Haydn's time at the Hungarian palace of Eszterháza, the composer's primary base of operations for nearly a quarter of a century and the place where, he said, he 'was forced to become original'.

Today, Haydn's employer Prince Nicolaus Eszterházy has the builders in, to expand his 'modest' 41-room hunting lodge in the back of beyond into a palace to rival Versailles. His scheme included a 400-seater opera house, whose productions Haydn was responsible for. He was also expected to provide music for Prince Nicolaus's favourite instrument, the baryton - a curious hybrid part viola da gamba, part bandora. Despite these demands he still found time to compose in other genres, including the piano sonata and the symphony.

1 hour

Last on

Mon 19 Jan 2015 18:30
BBC Radio 3

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Eszterhaza FairylandFranz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

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Music Played

  • Joseph Haydn

    La Canterina - Act 1 finale, Quartet: Scellerata, mancatrice

    Performer: Pál Németh. Singer: Ingrid Kertesi. Singer: Andrea Ulbrich. Ensemble: Capella Savaria. Singer: József Mukk.
    • HUNGAROTON : HCD-31664.
    • HUNGAROTON.
    • 6.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Stabat mater H.20bis

    Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Singer: Alastair Miles. Orchestra: Concentus Musicus Wien. Singer: Barbara Bonney. Singer: Elisabeth von Magnus. Singer: Herbert Lippert. Choir: Arnold Schönberg Chor.
    • WARNER : 2564-69939-8.
    • WARNER.
    • 10.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Lo Speziale - dramma giocoso in 3 acts H.28.3 - Virgo Virginum

    Conductor: Johannes Goritzki. Orchestra: Neuss Chamber Academy.
    • BERLIN CLASSICS; 0017122BC.
    • BERLIN CLASSICS.
    • 1.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Sonata in A flat major H.16.46 (Divertimento) for piano

    Performer: Ekaterina Dershavina.
    • PROFIL: PH12037.
    • PROFIL.
    • 15.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Trio in G major H.11.53 for baryton, viola and cello

    Ensemble: Esterhazy Ensemlble.
    • Brilliant: 93907/15.
    • Brilliant:.
    • 1.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony no. 26 in D minor H.1.26 (Lamentatione)

    Orchestra: The English Concert. Director: Trevor Pinnock.
    • ARCHIV : 427-662-2.
    • ARCHIV.
    • 1.

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