200 Years After Death Of Composer Joseph Haydn

Austrian Eisenstadt marked the 200 th anniversary of death of Joseph Haydn, famous composer and author of over 1,000 pieces.

Austria marked the 200 th anniversary of Joseph Haydn`s death, famous Austrian composer and conductor.

The anniversary of the composer`s death was marked in Eisenstadt, where Haydn created most of his compositions.

One of his most famous works, oratorio “The Creation” was performed on this occasion by German bass-baritone Thomas Quasthoff with the Austrian-Hungarian Philharmonic, headed by Hungarian conductor Adam Fischer.

Apart from music fans, football supporters are also familiar with Haydn`s work, seeing how he composed the melody which is used as the German national anthem today.

Haydn died in Vienna at the age of 77 in 1809. His works are less performed that those of his junior friend Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart or his pupil Ludwig Van Beethoven. However, he was a star in his own right and is believed to be credited for the development of the symphony and the string quartet.

Austrian conductor Nikolaus Harnoncourt told the ORF that all great composers upgraded Haydn`s ideas.