HAYDN
HAYDN
Joseph Haydn, born in Austria, lived from 1732 to 1809. Often referred to as the 'father of the string quartet', he exhibited an extraordinary work ethic, composing over 100 symphonies. Much of his career was spent in the service of the Esterházy family in Hungary, but in his later years, he achieved significant fame and fortune in London. Haydn taught both Mozart and Beethoven.
TEN FUN FACTS
ABOUT HAYDN
1. Haydn was born the year George Washington was born (1732) and died the year Abraham Lincoln was born (1809).
2. He grew up very poor in a tiny town in Austria (Rohrau) where his mother was a cook and his father a wheelwright.
3. He was a very successful boy soprano from age 8 until 17, singing in the choir of St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Vienna.
4. He was kicked out of the St. Stephen’s choir when his voice changed and he went to live in a poor attic, but at least during his time in the choir, he met the famous singing instructor Porpora.
5. At the age of 29, he was employed by the Esterházy family, one of the wealthiest in all of Europe, and he stayed with them for 30 years, writing the vast majority of his music for them.
6. Franz Liszt’s father played in Haydn’s orchestra at the Eszterháza for a time.
7. In the 1770s and 1780s, he was one of Europe’s leading opera composers, overseeing 150 productions of operas of other composers and writing many of his own.
8. Both he and his brother Michael were very close friends of Mozart. Michael worked in Salzburg for most of his life where the Mozarts lived.
9. His last opera, L’anima del filosofo, ossia Orfeo ed Euridice was composed for London but was never produced in his lifetime.
10. Haydn wrote more than 104 symphonies! (There are also symphonies “A” and “B”)