A composer whose works include such movements as a 'Rondo all' Ongarese'? Who wrote two quartets known as the 'Erdődy' and the 'Apponyi'? Who spent a good part of his life as the resident musician in service to the princely Esterházy family, a period from which the National Széchényi Library keeps a host of his manuscripts? Well why shouldn't we feel that he was a part of Hungarian culture in the broad sense of the word? It is no coincidence that Hungarian musicology has given the world internationally renowned Haydn researchers like Dénes Bartha, László Somfai and János Malina. The eye-catching tableaus of Müpa Budapest's exhibition, which is based on the results of this research, acquaints visitors with the world of the Esterházys, the town of Kismarton/Eisenstadt, the 'Hungarian Versailles' at Fertőd, Haydn's contract, his 'disciplinary regulations' and work conditions. We will also get to see the baryton (Prince Nikolaus's favourite instrument, for which Haydn had to compose 170 works), and the composer's own manuscripts. Not to mention getting to read about the repertoire of the Esterházy's opera house and puppet theatre, Haydn's symphonies, the Kaiserhymne, and the Hungarian motifs that appear in the composer's music. Here's a chance to learn more about Haydn's relationship with Hungary!

Curators: Katalin Kim, Pál Horváth (Musicology Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences Research Centre)

Presented by: Müpa Budapest