The Classical period, ranging from around 1750 to 1820, gave rise to some of the greatest musical works ever composed. From Joseph Haydn, father of the symphony, to the child genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the sound of the era was characterized by clarity, ease, and balance. For any aspiring composer seeking validation, these values were paramount.
Nowhere were these values more prized than in Vienna, the indisputable musical capital of Europe. From imperial sponsorship of the arts by the Habsburgs to a growing audience in a rising middle class, there is no mystery behind the nickname “The City of Music.”
