The Festival Overview

Eisenstadt, the capital of the federal province of Burgenland since 1925, is situated on the southern slopes of the Leitha Mountains. Surrounded by a great number of vineyards, Eisenstadt is the smallest federal capital of Austria with only 13,250 inhabitants.

The resident atmosphere of the Festival sets the program apart from the typical European "tour." Participants live in Eisenstadt, where Haydn served the Hungarian nobility for more than thirty years. There is an opportunity to truly get to know this quaint town which fostered the genius of Haydn, Beethoven and others. In no time at all, participants are calling Eisenstadt their "home away from home.

Since 1975, instrumental and vocal performers have been making a musical pilgrimage to Eisenstadt and Vienna, Austria to attend the Classical Music Festival and perform some of the greatest music ever written. Make this year the summer for your unforgettable experience as a participant in one of Austria's longest-running and most successful summer music programs. Over the years, festival orchestras and choruses have performed nearly all of the masses composed by Joseph Haydn as well as major works by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Hummel and other masters of the classical and early romantic eras.

Under the direction of artistic director and conductor, Dr. Richard Zielinski, participants will have the unique opportunity to study and perform in the same setting that fostered the genius of Joseph Haydn, Beethoven, Mozart and others – schedule in amazing venues like St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, Bergkirche in Eisenstadt, and the Esterházy Palace, considered one of the great historic and acoustically perfect concert halls in Europe. 

Recitals, lectures, tours and sightseeing designed to enhance participants' knowledge of Austrian culture will complement the busy 11-day schedule.You are invited to share in this wonderful and unique musical experience. It will be a privilege to welcome you to the city of Joseph Haydn, and we look forward to greeting you in August in the beautifully frescoed Haydn Hall of the Esterhazy Palace.