Vienna: Exhibitions

An absolute “must-see” for all Joseph Haydn fans is his former residence, the Haydn House, which contains Haydn’s original rooms where he composed, among others, The Creation and The Seasons. The exhibition’s main focus is on Haydn’s works, his lifestyle and Haydn at old age. On the ground floor you can see city portraits of London and Paris from around 1800. The staircase, which is lined with paintings of illustrious people from the past as well as statements about their hosts, gives access to Haydn’s living quarters on the first floor. The apartments were carefully renovated to their original state. Haydn’s 200th death anniversary will be celebrated with a 3-day event during which a reconstructed garden will be presented.
www.wienmuseum.at

The third floor of Vienna’s unique sound museum, the Haus der Musik, has a permanent exhibition on Haydn. A chronological table, a description of his daily routines and an interactive documentation illustrate Haydn’s life from the farmer's child to the Emperor's palace. Another focus is on the relationship between Haydn and his employers, the Counts of Esterházy and on Haydn’s life in London. Haydn’s last composition sketches, documents on his life and portraits of his students help making the master composer’s life more tangible. Also part of the exhibition: his parrot who could say Papa Haydn and sing the first lines of the imperial anthem.
www.hdm.at

The Collection of Old Music Instruments at Neue Burg boasts a wax bust of Haydn, a work for flutes for which Haydn wrote some piece and a cembalo which might have been sent to Vienna for Haydn. Also on view are a fortepiano by Johann Schantz (Haydn’s preferred piano maker), a tangent piano and a violin by Bett. Especially interesting are the barytones, bowed string instruments in the violine family which were in regular use until the end of the 18th century and whose unique sounds can be heard via the audio guide system. The exhibition also features some replicas of old instruments which visitors are welcome to play.
www.khm.at