Haydn's Language

Born into a humble rural background of the ‘Burgenland’ near Vienna in 1732, Joseph Haydn became first a member of the Vienna Boys’ Choir, then rose to become court musician to Prince Esterhazy, who was reputedly richer than the Emperor. Whilst living mainly in Vienna, for the summer season he returned to the Prince’s summer residence at Eisenstadt. Imperial Vienna was home to many contemporaries and Haydn both played with Mozart and gave lessons to Beethoven.
He died in 1809 as Napoleon was occupying Vienna and the latter gave him a ‘grace and favour’ residence at Belvedere Palace. Despite not speaking English he was an honorary doctorate of Oxford - when asked how he would manage in England, he replied: ‘My language is understood all over the world’. This short venture visits in a small group with a specialist music guide, his birthplace, summer residence and Viennese home.