Austria - Event

Eisenstadt's Landesmuseum Burgenland, Haydn House, Esterházy Palace and Diözesanmuseum join forces to host the Haydn Phenomenon (1732-1809) exhibition, tracing the great composer's life. The exhibition is part of the Haydn 2009 festival to commemorate the 200th anniversary of his death.

The exhibition carries the sub-heading "Eisenstadt: Venue for Musical World Literature" and focuses on Haydn's relationship with the town while he was the musical director of the Esterházy Palace. He took up his service with the Esterházy family in 1761 and remained involved with the royal court until he died in 1809. They were some very happy years, as Haydn admitted himself: "...accepted and received as court conductor at the service of his highness, the prince; this is where I desire to live and to pass on".

The exhibition is divided into four sections, one in each of the four museums. Esterházy Palace hosts the Focal Point of Courtly Music Culture section. At the Haydn House museum you'll find the Testimonials of Private Life and Work. Church Music at the Princely Court is the theme of the exhibition at the Diözesanmuseum and finally the Landesmuseum Burgenland looks at how Haydn wandered between the worlds of folk art and high culture in the Wanderer Between Cultures section.

Each part of the exhibition can be visited separately, but a combi-ticket for all four seems like the best option - if you do opt for only one exhibition, make it the one at the Esterházy Palace - this elaborate, yellow-fronted Baroque castle was where Haydn was employed and the halls and apartments are a sight to behold in their own right.