Without the early-music fan and patron Gottfried van Swieten, the course of music history would probably have been quite different. He acquainted Mozart with the works of Bach, encouraging him to combine the older master’s learned polyphony with the grace and balance of his own style. Van Swieten was himself a central figure in Viennese musical life, penning libretti for Haydn’s oratorios and supporting Beethoven financially. The Philharmonic Salon is paying tribute to the diplomat with a musical-literary programme. The German theatre legend Claus Peymann will read the texts. The Berlin Baroque Soloists will furnish the music.
Claus Peymann speaker
Berliner Barock Solisten
Krzysztof Polonek violin and direction
Cordelia Höfer forte piano
Götz Teutsch programme supervision
Gottfried Freiherr van Swieten - diplomat, musician and patron of the arts