Spreading Fame

Donald Macleod explores how Haydn’s popularity grew at this time throughout Europe.

“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 today's programme, Donald explores how Haydn’s popularity grew at this time throughout Europe, with his music being played in countries all across the continent. We’ll also learn how Haydn almost fell foul of his own slightly questionable business dealings and discover which country’s press even suggested kidnapping the composer to force him to come and work there.

Stabat Mater – VIII. Sancta Mater istud agas
Barbara Bonney, soprano
Herbert Lippert, tenor
Concentus Musicus Wien
Nikolaus Harnoncourt, conductor

Symphony no 85 in B flat major “La Reine”
Kammerorchester Basel
Giovanni Antonini, conductor

Quartet Op 33 no 5 in G major, Hob III:41 - II. Largo
Chiaroscuro Quartet

The Seven Last Words, Hob XX/2 – nos 8 & 9
Academy of St Martin in the Fields
Neville Marriner, conductor

Symphony no 77 in B flat, Hob I:77 – I. Vivace
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra

Producer: Sam Phillips