Part 2: The Palace Tour Begins
So let's take a tour of the Esterhazy palace. First our very nice tour guide shows us a carriage for special occasions. Wonder how the people that carried such a contraption with a person in it trained to carry such weight without stumbling over rough ground?
The tour was focused in part on the Esterhazy family and in part on the musical genius of Haydn whom they supported, with a few stops to listen to some of Haydn's compositions in rooms where he composed or played with either his chamber orchestra, his quartets, or his full orchestra:
On the wall hangs a famous portrait of Haydn, doing the work he loved: composing.
Of course there was more to the Esterhazy's musical tastes than just instrumental music, and they were fond of an occasional opera as well, and some of the displays showed the sets and costuming for such an event with the orchestra playing:
If I understood the tour guide correctly, Haydn didn't care for this instrument but his boss did, so he composed for it and did so very well:
The Esterhazys were very well off and had astounding furniture and other treasures (note the white heaters in every room into which hot coals were placed at night):
This dining table and its setting were impressive.
I quite liked the library of course:
The Esterhazy treasures collection was equally impressive (only a part of the collection is shown here):
Of course every tour saves its best for last, and that will require another page.
Go to Eisenstadt Part 3: the palace tour ends
Go to Eisenstadt Part 4: the palace gardens
Go to Eisenstadt Part 5: the Haydn church or Bergkirche
Go back to Eisenstadt Part 1: the Esterhazy palace and Haydn's home
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