Franz Joseph Haydn

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Born: 1732   Died: 1809   Country: Austria   Period: Classical
Franz Joseph Haydn is the composer who, more than any other, epitomizes the aims and achievements of the Classical era. Perhaps his most important achievement was that he developed and evolved in countless subtle ways the most influential structural principle in the history of music: his perfection of the set of expectations known as sonata form made an epochal impact. In hundreds of instrumental sonatas, string quartets, and symphonies, Haydn Read more both broke new ground and provided durable models; indeed, he was among the creators of these fundamental genres of classical music. His influence upon later composers is immeasurable; Haydn's most illustrious pupil, Beethoven, was the direct beneficiary of the elder master's musical imagination, and Haydn's shadow lurks within (and sometimes looms over) the music of composers like Schubert, Mendelssohn, and Brahms.

Part and parcel of Haydn's formal mastery was his famous sense of humor, his feeling for the unpredictable, elegant twist. In the Symphony No. 94 ("Surprise") (1791), the composer tweaks those audience members who typically fall asleep during slow movements with the sudden, completely unexpected intrusion of a fortissimo chord during a passage of quietude. Haydn's pictorial sense is much in evidence works like his epic oratorio The Creation (1796-1798), in which images of the cosmos taking shape are thrillingly, movingly portrayed in tones. By one estimate, Haydn produced some 340 hours of music, more than Bach or Handel, Mozart or Beethoven. Few of them lack some unexpected detail or clever solution to a formal problem.

Haydn was prolific not just because he was a tireless worker with an inexhaustible musical imagination, but also because of the circumstances of his musical career: he was the last prominent beneficiary of the system of noble patronage that had nourished European musical composition since the Renaissance. Born in the small Austrian village of Rohrau, he became a choirboy at St. Stephen's cathedral in Vienna when he was eight. After his voice broke and he was turned out of the choir, he eked out a precarious living as a teenage freelance musician in Vienna. His fortunes began to turn in the late 1750s as members of Vienna's noble families became aware of his music, and on May 1, 1761, he went to work for the Esterházy family. He remained in their employ for the next 30 years, writing many of his instrumental compositions and operas for performance at their vast summer palace, Esterháza.

Musical creativity may often, it is true, meet a tragic end, but Haydn lived long enough to reap the rewards of his own imagination and toil. The Esterházys curtailed their musical activities in 1790, but by that time Haydn was known all over Europe and widely considered the greatest living composer. (He himself deferred to Mozart in that regard, and the friendly competition between the two composers deepened the music of both.) Two trips to London during the 1790s resulted in two sets of six symphonies each (among them the "Surprise" symphony) that remain centerpieces of the orchestral repertoire. Haydn's final masterpieces included powerful choral works: the Creation and Seasons oratorios and a group of six masses. Haydn stopped composing in 1803, after which he prefaced his correspondence with a little musical quotation (from one of his part-songs) bearing the text "Gone is all my strength; I am old and weak." He died in Vienna on May 31, 1809. Read less

Featured Franz Joseph Haydn CDs & DVDs:

Haydn: Piano Concertos No 3, 4 & 11 / Hamelin
Haydn: Piano Concertos No 3, 4 & 11 / Hamelin
Release Date: 04/09/2013   Label: Hyperion  
Catalog: 67925   Number of Discs: 1
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Variations: Haydn, Beethoven, Schumann / Ax
Variations: Haydn, Beethoven, Schumann / Ax
Release Date: 01/22/2013   Label: Sony  
Catalog: 542086   Number of Discs: 1
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Haydn: Piano Sonatas Vol 3 / Marc-andre Hamelin
Haydn: Piano Sonatas Vol 3 / Marc-andre Hamelin
Release Date: 06/12/2012   Label: Hyperion  
Catalog: 67882   Number of Discs: 2
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Haydn: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 5
Haydn: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 5
Release Date: 04/30/2013   Label: Chandos  
Catalog: 10763   Number of Discs: 1
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Bach, Rameau, Handel, Gluck, Haydn / Otto Klemperer [8-CD Set]
Bach, Rameau, Handel, Gluck, Haydn / Otto Klemperer [8-CD Set]
Release Date: 05/07/2013   Label: Emi Classics  
Catalog: 484332   Number of Discs: 8
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Work: Concerto for Cello no 2 in D major, Op. 101/H 7b no 2

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  • 1.
    Haydn: The Cello Concertos
    Label: Capriccio Records   Catalog: 5139 Release Date: 10/30/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Franz Joseph Haydn
    Performer:  Harriet Krijgh
    Conductor:  Claudius Traunfellner
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  • 2.
    Haydn: Symphonies / Mogens Woldike
    Haydn: Symphonies / Mogens Woldike
    Label: Danacord   Catalog: 703 Release Date: 09/11/2012   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Franz Joseph Haydn
    Conductor:  Mogens Wöldike
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Danish Radio Chamber Orchestra
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  • 3.
    Haydn: Cellokonzerte
    Haydn: Cellokonzerte
    Label: Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog: 001697302 Release Date: 07/24/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Franz Joseph Haydn
    Performer:  Mischa Maisky
    Conductor:  Mischa Maisky
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  • 4.
    Daniil Shafran - Cello
    Daniil Shafran - Cello
    Label: Melodiya   Catalog: 1001938 Release Date: 07/10/2012   Number of Discs: 5
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Luigi Boccherini,  Johannes Brahms,  Frédéric Chopin  ... 
    Performer:  Daniil Shafran,  Felix Gotlib,  Anton Ginsburg,  Dmitri Shostakovich
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  USSR State Symphony Orchestra,  Academic Symphony Orchestra Of The Moscow State Philharmonic
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  • 5.
    Sigiswald Kuijken Edition
    Sigiswald Kuijken Edition
    Label: Dhm Deutsche Harmonia Mundi   Catalog: 1953082 Release Date: 05/15/2012   Number of Discs: 10
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,  Francesco Geminiani,  Georg Muffat  ... 
    Performer:  Jan Van der Crabben,  Magdalena Kozená,  Midori Suzuki,  Knut Schoch  ... 
    Conductor:  Sigiswald Kuijken
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  La Petite Bande,  Namur Chamber Choir,  Netherlands Chamber Choir  ... 
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  • 6.
    Jacqueline Du Pre - The Complete EMI Recordings [17-CD Set]
    Jacqueline Du Pre - The Complete EMI Recordings [17-CD Set]
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 91934 Release Date: 05/08/2012   Number of Discs: 17
    Composer:  Sir Edward Elgar,  Frederick Delius,  Camille Saint-Saëns,  Antonín Dvorák  ... 
    Performer:  Jacqueline Du Pré,  Daniel Barenboim,  Gerald Moore,  Ernest Lush  ... 
    Conductor:  Sir John Barbirolli,  Sir Malcolm Sargent,  Daniel Barenboim,  Sir Adrian Boult
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  London Symphony Orchestra,  Royal Philharmonic Orchestra,  New Philharmonia Orchestra  ... 
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  • 7.
    The Sound Of Jacqueline Du Pre
    The Sound Of Jacqueline Du Pre
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 91975 Release Date: 05/08/2012   Number of Discs: 4
    Composer:  Franz Joseph Haydn,  Sir Edward Elgar,  Robert Schumann,  Camille Saint-Saëns  ... 
    Performer:  Jacqueline Du Pré,  Daniel Barenboim,  Pinchas Zukerman,  Stephen Kovacevich  ... 
    Conductor:  Sir John Barbirolli,  Daniel Barenboim
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  London Symphony Orchestra,  New Philharmonia Orchestra,  English Chamber Orchestra  ... 
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  • 8.
    Haydn, Vivaldi: Cello Concertos
    Haydn, Vivaldi: Cello Concertos
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 02322 Release Date: 04/24/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Franz Joseph Haydn,  Antonio Vivaldi
    Performer:  Lynn Harrell
    Conductor:  Sir Neville Marriner,  Pinchas Zukerman
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  • 9.
    Haydn: Cello Concertos No 1 & 2 / Rostropovich
    Haydn: Cello Concertos No 1 & 2 / Rostropovich
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 6787232 Release Date: 03/26/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Franz Joseph Haydn
    Performer:  Mstislav Rostropovich
    Conductor:  Mstislav Rostropovich
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  • 10.
    Haydn: Cello Concertos 1 & 2; Kraft: Cello Sonata / Maintz, German CO Bremen
    Haydn: Cello Concertos 1 & 2; Kraft: Cello Sonata / Maintz, German CO Bremen
    Label: Berlin Classics   Catalog: 300262 Release Date: 10/11/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Franz Joseph Haydn,  Anton Kraft
    Performer:  Jens Peter Maintz,  David Adorjan
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  German Chamber Philharmonic Bremen
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  • 11.
    Haydn: Concertos, German Dances, Overtures / Schiff, Tuckwell, Stringer, Preston
    Haydn: Concertos, German Dances, Overtures / Schiff, Tuckwell, Stringer, Preston
    Label: Eloquence   Catalog: 4804481 Release Date: 06/28/2011   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Franz Joseph Haydn
    Performer:  Heinrich Schiff,  George Malcolm,  Alan Stringer,  Simon Preston  ... 
    Conductor:  Sir Neville Marriner
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
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  • 12.
    Haydn: Cello Concertos / Yo-Yo Ma
    Haydn: Cello Concertos / Yo-Yo Ma
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 54467 Release Date: 05/03/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Franz Joseph Haydn
    Performer:  Yo-Yo Ma
    Conductor:  José L. Garcia
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  English Chamber Orchestra
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  • 13.
    Haydn: Cello Concertos No 1 & 2 / Wen-sinn Yang, L'accademia D'archi Bolzano
    Haydn: Cello Concertos No 1 & 2 / Wen-sinn Yang, L'accademia D'archi Bolzano
    Label: Oehms   Catalog: 782 Release Date: 02/22/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Franz Joseph Haydn
    Performer:  Wenn-Sinn Yang
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Bolzano String Academy
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  • 14.
    Haydn: Concertos For Violoncello And Orchestra
    Haydn: Concertos For Violoncello And Orchestra
    Label: Camerata Records   Catalog: 28211 Release Date: 01/11/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Franz Joseph Haydn
    Performer:  Othmar Muller
    Conductor:  Martin Kerschbaum
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Salzburg Soloists
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  • 15.
    Maria Kliegel - Cello Master Class
    Maria Kliegel - Cello Master Class
    Label: Naxos   Catalog: 2110280-81 Release Date: 12/14/2010   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Franz Joseph Haydn,  Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky,  Robert Schumann
    Performer:  Maria Kliegel
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  • 16.
    Haydn: Cello Concertos
    Haydn: Cello Concertos
    Label: Passacaille   Catalog: 960 Release Date: 10/12/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Franz Joseph Haydn
    Performer:  Sergei Istomin
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Apollo Ensemble (Amsterdam)
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  • 17.
    Haydn: Cello Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 / Fremil, Freeman, Czech National Symphony Orchestra
    Haydn: Cello Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 / Fremil, Freeman, Czech National Symphony Orchestra
    Label: Centaur Records   Catalog: 3039 Release Date: 09/28/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Franz Joseph Haydn
    Performer:  Stephen Framil
    Conductor:  Paul Freeman
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Czech National Symphony Orchestra
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  • 18.
    Haydn: Violin & Cello Concertos / Accardo, Walevska, De Waart
    Haydn: Violin & Cello Concertos / Accardo, Walevska, De Waart
    Label: Newton Classics   Catalog: 8802017 Release Date: 09/28/2010   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Franz Joseph Haydn
    Performer:  Salvatore Accardo,  Christine Walevska,  Bruno Canino
    Conductor:  Salvatore Accardo,  Edo De Waart
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  English Chamber Orchestra
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  • 19.
    Haydn: Symphony No 83, Cello Concerto / Ochsenhofer, Wiener Mozartisten
    Haydn: Symphony No 83, Cello Concerto / Ochsenhofer, Wiener Mozartisten
    Label: Camerata Records   Catalog: 28166 Release Date: 09/14/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Franz Joseph Haydn
    Performer:  Martin Gabriel,  Robert Nágy
    Conductor:  Hans Peter Ochsenhofer
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Wiener Mozartisten
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  • 20.
    Pierre Fournier - The Aristocrat Of Cellists
    Pierre Fournier - The Aristocrat Of Cellists
    Label: Emi Classics   Catalog: 29539 Release Date: 09/14/2010   Number of Discs: 7
    Composer:  Johann Sebastian Bach,  Maurice Ravel,  Claude Debussy,  Gabriel Fauré  ... 
    Performer:  Pierre Fournier,  Ernest Lush,  Tasso Janopoulo,  Gerald Moore  ... 
    Conductor:  Rafael Kubelik,  Eugčne Bigot,  Walter Susskind,  Alceo Galliera  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Philharmonia Orchestra,  Lamoureux Concerts Association Orchestra
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  • 21.
    Joseph Haydn: Cello Concertos; Sinfonia Concertante
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 7704462 Release Date: 07/19/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Franz Joseph Haydn
    Performer:  Steven Isserlis,  Matthew Wilkie,  Martijin Blankestijn,  Douglas Boyd
    Conductor:  Roger Norrington
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  • 22.
    Joseph Haydn, Johann Zumsteeg: Cello Concertos
    Joseph Haydn, Johann Zumsteeg: Cello Concertos
    Label: Cello Classics   Catalog: 1023 Release Date: 07/06/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Franz Joseph Haydn,  Johann Rudolf Zumsteeg
    Performer:  Sebastian Comberti
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
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  • 23.
    Haydn: Cello Concertos / Meneses, Northern Sinfonia
    Haydn: Cello Concertos / Meneses, Northern Sinfonia
    Label: Avie   Catalog: 2176 Release Date: 06/08/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Franz Joseph Haydn,  Clovis Pereira
    Performer:  Antonio Meneses
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Northern Sinfonia
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  • 24.
    Joseph Haydn: Cello Concertos I-iii
    Joseph Haydn: Cello Concertos I-iii
    Label: Berlin Classics   Catalog: 115272 Release Date: 03/09/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Franz Joseph Haydn
    Performer:  Jan Vogler
    Conductor:  Ludwig Güttler
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  • 25.
    Jan Vogler - Portrait
    Jan Vogler - Portrait
    Label: Berlin Classics   Catalog: 184742 Release Date: 02/09/2010   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Claude Debussy,  Robert Schumann,  Felix Mendelssohn,  Ludwig van Beethoven  ... 
    Performer:  Jan Vogler
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