Amadeus

Donald Macleod explores the friendship which was kindled between the two greatest composers in the world - Haydn and Mozart.

“Haydn! The admirable and matchless Haydn!” That is how the composer and writer on music Charles Burney described the composer. Over the course of this week, Donald Macleod explores how, before Burney came up with this effusive accolade, Haydn grew to become the most famous composer in the world, despite being holed up on a remote Hungarian estate, far from the musical in-crowds.

We will explore Haydn’s operatic successes, his attempts to infiltrate the Viennese musical world, and his relationship with the other great composer of his day – Mozart. Donald also discovers the contractual arrangement which allowed Haydn's music to spread throughout Europe and the circumstances which led to him leaving the employ of the Esterhazy family, just as his fame was hitting its height and Haydn himself was beginning to despair at being stuck in the Hungarian countryside.

In Wednesday’s episode, Donald explores the friendship which was kindled at this time between the two greatest composers in the world – Haydn and Mozart. We’ll learn the likely circumstances under which the pair met, as fellow performers in a string quartet, how the mutual respect the composers had for each other’s music led to changes in their own styles, and we'll find out how Mozart helped Haydn to join a Masonic lodge in Vienna which led to a wealth of influential contacts. Also, we’ll hear the music which Haydn wrote to pay tribute to Mozart on his death.

Symphony no 81 in G major, Hob.I:81 – I. Vivace
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra

Piano Sonata no.56 in D major, XVI:42
Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, piano

Quartet op.33 “Russian” no 4 in B flat major – Finale
Chiaroscuro Quartet

Piano Concerto no.11 in D major
Leif Ove Andsnes, piano

Symphony no 98 in B flat major, Hob.I:98 – Adagio
Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
Nikolaus Harnoncourt, conductor

Producer: Sam Phillips