Franz Joseph Haydn, composer

Born: March 31, 1732 in Rohrau, Austria

Died: May 31, 1809 in Vienna

Assignments: music director to Count Morzin, Kapellmeister to the Esterhazys

Operas: Lo speziale, L'infedeltà delusa, Il mondo della luna, La fedelta premiata, Orlando paladino and Armida

Is regarded: as the father of the symphony and the string quartet

Homage to Haydn

Each of Franz Joseph Haydn’s final six Masses is a towering masterpiece. We’ll explore two of these amazing works each season beginning in 2006 and culminating in the 2009 commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the composer’s death. Written in the shadow of the Napoleonic Wars and at the height of his fame, each Mass uses the same words but has a completely distinct personality. A final staggering feat of creativity by one of music’s true geniuses!