Grand Designs
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.
Last on
More episodes
Previous
You are at the first episode
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 Schoenberg 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.
Broadcasts
- Mon 19 Jan 201512:00BBC Radio 3
- Mon 19 Jan 201518:30BBC Radio 3
Beethoven Unleashed – the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod’s best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time – why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.
