Affectionately nicknamed Papa, reverered as the 'Father of the Symphony' and 'Father of the String Quartet', this week Donald Macleod explores the life and music of Franz Joseph Haydn through another musical form that the composer made his own, his music for Trio.

In the mid 1780s, Haydn was more and more occupied with music for the stage. His employer, Prince Nicholaus had a passion for opera, and his favourite, performed no less than 54 times at immense cost, was Haydn's Armida, complete with the themes of love, hate, jealousy, revenge, magic and monsters.

Haydn did however find time to compose other works during this productive period, including his Piano Trio in A, and to make the aquaintance of one Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

London audiences had been eager for Haydn to visit England for some time, but it was rumoured that his employer the Prince would not allow him. The London press were soon calling for Haydn to be kidnapped. Haydn's music was equally popular in France, and he received a commission for a set of symphonies, including La reine, The Queen, a work that became popular with Marie Antoinette. Show less