Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)

This week, Donald Macleod traces the making of Joseph Haydn – from his long years of service to the Eszterházy princes on a remote Hungarian estate to his emergence as one of the most celebrated composers in Europe. Working in relative isolation, Haydn developed a distinctive musical voice while managing opera houses, orchestras and singers, gradually attracting attention far beyond the court. As new freedoms allowed him to publish and sell his music more widely, commissions came from Paris, Spain and London, and friendships in Vienna – most notably with Mozart – reshaped his artistic world. The programmes follow Haydn at a moment of transition, as growing fame sits alongside frustration, ambition and a readiness for change that would soon alter his life completely. Music featured includes: Baryton Trio No. 126: Finale Philemon und Baucis: Triumph, dem Gott der Götter! Il mondo della luna: Overture; Non aver di me sospetto Symphony No. 59 in A major ‘Fire’ Armida: Se pietade avete, oh numi L’isola disabitata: Fra un dolce deliro Symphony No. 60 ‘Il distratto’: Presto Piano Sonata No. 20 in C minor, Hob. XVI:20 Missa Cellensis, Hob. XXII:8: Gloria Il ritorno di Tobia: Anna, m’ascolta Symphony No. 81: Vivace Piano Sonata No. 56, Hob. XVI:42 String Quartet Op. 33 No. 4: Finale Piano Concerto No. 11 in D major Symphony No. 98: Adagio Stabat Mater: Sancta Mater istud agas Symphony No. 85 in B flat major ‘La Reine’ String Quartet Op. 33 No. 5: Largo The Seven Last Words of Our Saviour on the Cross: Nos. 8 & 9 Symphony No. 77 in B flat major: Vivace Three Pieces for Musical Clock: Tempo di minuetto London Trio No. 3: Spirituoso Arianna a Naxos Symphony No. 92 ‘Oxford’: Finale Libera me Symphony No. 45 in F sharp minor ‘Farewell’: Finale Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Sam Phillips for BBC Audio Wales and West For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here:

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Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) is an episode from Composer of the Week by BBC.

This episode is 72:09 long.

This episode was published on Apr 24, 2026.

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