Travel tips for classic lovers – Vienna and Joseph Haydn

Joseph Haydn in Vienna

The series about historical places of opera art & culture. Get to know exciting excursion and travel ideas for opera lovers. This time: Joseph Haydn in Vienna.

All Destinations on google maps with links to detailed Blogposts:

Joseph Haydn in Vienna

Haydn spent his youth and his old age in Vienna. He came to Vienna in 1740, already at the age of 8 (without parents), after being “discovered” by the musical director of St. Stephen’s Cathedral in his home in the rural area, who was looking for singers for chapel choir. There he was taught to sing and play the violin and sang soprano in the choir for almost 10 years. When he turned 17, the empress, hearing him sing a solo piece, complained that he sang like a crow, and Haydn was dismissed because of the onset of vocal break. He was left penniless on the street, with no help from his poor parents. Haydn made his way through life with odd jobs for many years (assignments as a musician, teaching, servant work, etc.) and lived for years in a poor apartment on Kohlmarkt. He continued his musical education autodidactically (especially with works by C.Ph.E. Bach), since he had only received a basic knowledge as a singer. After eight years his luck finally turned around and he got his first job in Pilsen, leaving Vienna for the next almost 40 years (if you don’t count the regular visits).

With his two London visits, Haydn became rich at an advanced age, which allowed him to buy a stately house in Vienna-Gumperndorf, where he lived from 1795 until his death in 1809. He died of old age during the turmoil of the Napoleonic battles for Vienna and was first buried in Hundsturm Cemetery in Vienna (a tombstone still stands today) and later moved to the Bergkirche in Eisenstadt.

To the travel guide VIENNA for classic and opera fans

Haydn monumnent Mariahilfstrasse 55:

Destination Michaeler house (Michaelerplatz 4, resp. Kohlmarkt 11)

This place used to be called Kohlmarkt and a place where many musicians stayed (e.g. Chopin with a memorial plaque at number 9). Haydn lived in a poor attic apartment from 17-24 years for many year, where he taught in exchange for room and board. The famous poet Metastasio, who supported Haydn, also lived in the house complex.

The house is a so-called Pavlat construction, which means that the entrances are on the outside, so there was no need for corridors and staircases in the house.The inner courtyard with its baroque carriage sheds is particularly impressive.

A memorial plaque on the building Kohlmarkt 11 commemorates the famous resident.

Court:

Destination Haydn house (Museum)

Haydn spent his last 12 years here until his death at the age of 77. He was a European celebrity and received many visitors here, but in the course of time more and more ailments of old age became noticeable. Nevertheless, Haydn experienced a productive period here and wrote works for his old age, such as the oratorios “The Creation” and “The Seasons”. In his last years he was no longer able to compose.

All kinds of memorabilia can be seen in the Haydn House. The highlight is two of Haydn’s keyboard instruments, one of which belonged to Johannes Brahms in the meantime. The Haydn House also includes a room dedicated to Brahms, who had made exemplary efforts to preserve Haydn’s memory.

This beautiful city mansion of Haydn also includes a beautiful garden, which has been arranged in the style of his time.

Haydnhaus:

https://www.wienmuseum.at/en/locations/haydnhaus

Destination Haydn gravestone in Haydnpark

Haydn was buried at his death in Hundsturm Cemetery. After the burial, five men, with the help of a gravedigger, stole the skull at night allegedly for research and security purposes. Haydn’s body was moved to Eisenstadt in 1820, where Prince Esterhazy was horrified to notice the missing skull. This resurfaced after an odyssey 100 years later at the Musikverein in Vienna, where, after a lengthy back and forth, it was placed in Eisenstadt in Haydn’s resting place in the Bergkirche with the rest of the remains in 1954.

Hundsturm Cemetery was eventually turned into a park, but Haydn’s tombstone was left in its original location.

Haydn’s tombstone in Haydn Park:

Haydn’s skull is finally in Eisenstadt:

Haydn’s “Die Schöpfung” (The creation)

Haydn was impressed by Handel’s oratorios, which he had heard during his two stays in London. He then composed this beautiful oratorio that quickly became known throughout Europe.

Die Schöpfung – Die Himmel erzählen