The father of the symphony… or the father of the string quartet and one of the most important composers of the Classical period, alongside Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven. We are talking about Joseph Haydn - the composer of the week broadcast on 'Arpeggio' on Radio Romania Music.

Joseph Haydn lived between 1732 and 1809 (this year we celebrate 205 years since his passing). The phrase describing the composer, who was born in Rohrau (Austria), is 'forced to be original' - this is how Haydn, who was at that time the musician of the Esterházy Court, saw himself. Joseph Haydn became a 'free composer' in the last part of his life, during the time he spent in London.

He had two brothers, Michael (composer) and Johann Evangelist (tenor), he was a good friend of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, but also one of Ludwig van Beethoven's teachers, after having met him during a trip to London.

He is frequently seen in London… maybe because it was the place that inspired Haydn the most. The series of London Symphonies bears witness to that - the last twelve symphonies (that is from Symphonyno. 93to Symphonyno. 104, among which we find the 'Surprise' Symphony, the Symphony 'with the kettledrum stroke', the 'Military' Symphonyand 'The Clock' Symphony), six string quartets and two oratorios, The Seasonsand The Creation. The conductor René Jacobs said about the last two:

'When you conduct the oratorio the Creation, you have the impression of being God… Haydn admired Handel's creation regarding the oratorios, so he came up with the idea of emulating this kind of composition, while proving that he could be much better, using this libretto.'

Joseph Haydn, the Composer of the Week, on Arpeggio, this week, between 3^rdand 7^thFebruary. Symphony No. 45with the 'Academy of Ancient Music', an ensemble conducted by Christopher Hogwood, Piano Sonata in C Major interpreted by Alfred Brendel and Symphony No.94, Surprise, with the ensemble 'Les Musiciens du Louvre', conducted by Marc Minkowski, are just some of the proposals of this programme.