Franz Joseph Haydn was born in Rohrau, near Braatislava, he spent much of his life as kapellmeister to the Austrian Esterhazy family, but visited London twice. A teacher of both Mozart and Beethoven, he was a major exponent of the classical sonata form in his numerous chamber and orchestral works(he wrote over 100 symphonies). He also wrote much choral music, the best known including the oratorios The Creation 1798 and The Seasons 1801.