“Not long after my arrival here, I made a trip to the residential castle of Prince Esterhazy. With the exception of Versaille, there is no place to compare with it for magnificence. He keeps a theatre, which is certainly unique of its kind. The biggest operas are given in it. His court orchestra is one of the best I have ever heard and the great HAYDN is his court and theatre composer.” (The diary of Baron Riesbecke, 1784)