We undertake to perform all the 108 symphonies by Haydn out of our natural love for art, and as a protest against the aggressive vulgarity of our times.
We want to practice art with intensity, to regularly return to the fundamental repertoire of major works that have helped to create our culture. We wish to celebrate the ritual of daily worship of art.
Joseph Haydn is one of the most famous composers across the history of music. We reach for all the 108 symphonies by Haydn because we wonder how this project will change us, and how it will affect our artistic and social environment. Perhaps this will be a travel in time but, naturally, it will be perceived differently by every individual. The most universal and the most useful approach to the project is to treat it as a pretext to remember the contexts: the era, the works of art, the idea. Although Haydn lived at a time of major social transformations, we, the humanists, mostly perceive it as a time of the triumph of the enlightenment. While relying on the genius of the era, we hope to look further and see more. Let the performance of all Haydn’s symphonies be a sort of a declaration of our attachment to the universal values of progress, and an anthem to the open minds.
Classical music is an international field of art, enriched with local sensitivity. Our performance of the full collection of Haydn’s symphonies is not a monument for one conductor alone. Particular evenings will be conducted by various leaders who will bring their own proposals of the repertoire to accompany further symphonies, thus preventing us from falling into a routine. At a time where art has become one of the strongest instruments of education, innovation, and social integration, we treat our project as a broad and firm bridge to connect all the worlds we may touch upon during our journey. Let our Haydn 2018-2023 be like Sappho’s words: If you are my friend, stand up before me and scatter the grace that’s in your eyes.