2009 marks the bicentenary of the death of Joseph Haydn (1732-1809). The anniversary is an opportunity for music lovers worldwide to dedicate more attention to the life and work of this famous Viennese Classic.

In 2009, Joseph Haydn’s music features in the repertoires of the Vienna Mozart Orchestra and the Mozart Ensemble. Throughout the whole year, the Esterházy Palace in Eisenstadt offers a varied programme with various tourist routes, incl. the Haydn Hall and the palace chapel. Visiting the house where the composer lived and died, in Haydngasse, in Vienna’s 6th District, is also a must for Haydn fans. The greatest musical event are the International Haydn Days which attract the interested public to Eisenstadt every year.

In the Haydn Year, 2009, the composer’s unique oeuvre will be presented in a special series of numerous concerts held in the original venues associated with the artist’s life, where both the chamber music and the great operas will be performed. Around the time of the precise death anniversary, 28th May to 1st June 2009, a series of special concerts will be held, including an evening with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra performing Creation of the World under the baton of Adam Fischer, with the Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra and the soloists Thomas Quasthoff and Christoph Strahl. In 2009, the traditional International Haydn Days will be prolonged, and between 10th and 27th September will focus on Haydn’s activity in London and Paris, including a staging of his last opera: L’anima del filosofo. After the Eisenstadt performance on 31st May 2009, the oratorio Creation of the World will be performed in many parts of the world, successively in each time zone. The world’s composers will commemorate the great inventor of the piano trio by writing new works for this ensemble, to be released on CD in 2009. These work will also be played by the famous Haydn Trio from Eisenstadt during their world tour.

More information on the Haydn Year 2009 can be found at: www.haydn2009.at (in German and English) and www.austria.info (in Polish).