"Sad to be a slave"

Donald Macleod explores how Haydn grew frustrated at his life in Esterhaza and discovers how he came to leave the service of the Esterhazy family.

“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 Friday’s programme, Donald explores how Haydn grew frustrated at his life in Esterhaza, jealous of the delights available in Vienna and lonely without the friends he had made there. He also discovers the change in circumstances which allowed him to leave the service of the Esterhazy family and the reasons that led him to take his next steps, leaving the Austrian capital to instead travel to London.

Three Pieces for Musical clock – no 2: Tempo di minuetto
William McVicker, organ

London Trio No. 3 in G Major, Hob. IV:3 – I. Spirituoso
Jean-Pierre Rampal (flute)
Wolfgang-Andreas Schultz (flute)
Gilbert Audin (bassoon)

Arianna a Naxos – Cantata
Cecilia Bartoli, mezzo-soprano
Andras Schiff, piano

Symphony 92 ‘Oxford’ – IV. Finale
Berlin Philharmonic
Simon Rattle, conductor

Libera Me
Chorale Philippe Caillard
Jean Bridier, director

Symphony no 45 in F sharp minor “Farewell” – IV. Finale
Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra
Ton Koopman, conductor

Producer: Sam Phillips