The Early Music Show - Haydn and the Esterhazy Family - Episode 2

In a programme about Haydn's 29-year tenure under the patronage of the Esterhazy family, Lucie Skeaping continues her tour round their Palace in northwestern Hungary, in the company of musicologist and Haydn expert Balasz Mikusi. Prince Nikolaus Esterhazy 'The Magnificent' was very proud of his new 'summer residence', in which he spent more time each year. At any opportunity, he would welcome influential politicians, wealthy nobles and royalty to his beautiful palace, laying on lavish feasts and entertainments, for which Haydn composed most of his operas and burlettas, either for the main theatre or for the palace's marionettes. By now, the Prince had relaxed his initial stance on exclusivity, and permitted Haydn to fulfil commissions from external sources. This allowed his famous composer to write the Seven Last Words for Cadiz Cathedral, and a number of pieces for the King of Naples, who was a devotee of a rather bizarre instrument - the lira organizzata - apparently a hybrid of a chamber organ and a hurdy-gurdy. Lucie visits the workshop of the Austrian instrument-maker Wolfgang Weichselbaumer, who has built two lire organizzate, heard on a recording made by the Ensemble Baroque de Limoges and Christophe Coin. As the 1780s drew to a close, Haydn began to feel more and more isolated at Esterhazy, but could never quite bring himself to leave its security. But in 1790, Prince Nikolaus died; his heir and successor, Prince Anton was not a music lover and immediately disbanded the orchestra. He granted Haydn his freedom, but asked him to retain his official title of Kapellmeister to Prince Esterhazy. Thus began a new chapter in Haydn's life and career, which took him to London and Vienna, enjoying his newly discovered fame. Haydn: Overture (Le Pescatrici) Haydn Sinfonietta Wien Manfred Huss (conductor) KOCH SCHWANN 3-1723-2 Tr 3 Haydn: Ho un tumore in un ginocchio (L'infidelta delusa) Nancy Argenta (Vespina) La Petite Bande Sigiswald Kuijken (director) Martin Haselbock (conductor) DEUTSCHE HARMONIA MUNDI RD 77099, CD2 Tr 2 Haydn: Overture (Philemon und Baucis) Haydn Sinfonietta Wien Manfred Huss (conductor) KOCH SCHWANN 3-1723-2 Tr 5 Haydn: Concerto No 1 for two lire organizzate, two violins, two violas, cello, bass and two horns, HVII 1 (1st mvt) (excerpts) Matthias Loibner, Thierry Nouat (lire organizzate) Ensemble Baroque de Limoges Christopher Coin (director) LABORIE LC03 Tr 1 Haydn: Notturno No 3 in C for two lire organizzate, two clarinets, two violas, cello, bass and two horns, H II 32 Matthias Loibner, Thierry Nouat (lira organizzata) Ensemble Baroque de Limoges Christopher Coin (director) LABORIE LC03 Tr 15 Haydn: Little Organ Mass, H XXII 7 (Benedictus) (excerpt) Nicholaus Esterhazy Sinfonia NAXOS 8.554416 Tr 17 Haydn: Gloria (St Nicholas Mass) English Concert and Choir Trevor Pinnock (conductor) ARCHIV 437 807-2 Tr 7 Haydn: Baryton Trio No 56 in D (1st mvt) Esterhazy Ensemble BRILLIANT CLASSICS 93907, CD 8 Tr 10.