The Australian Haydn Ensemble is a classical music ensemble that was founded in 2011. The ensemble is based in Sydney, Australia, and is dedicated to performing music from the classical and early romantic periods. The ensemble is known for its historically informed performances, which aim to recreate the sound and style of the music as it would have been heard during the time it was composed. The founding members of the Australian Haydn Ensemble were Skye McIntosh, who serves as the ensemble's artistic director and principal violinist, and James Eccles, who is the ensemble's principal cellist. Both McIntosh and Eccles are highly accomplished musicians who have performed with some of the world's leading orchestras and ensembles. Since its founding, the Australian Haydn Ensemble has become one of Australia's leading classical music ensembles. The ensemble has performed at some of the country's most prestigious venues, including the Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Recital Centre, and City Recital Hall. The ensemble has also toured extensively throughout Australia and has performed in Europe and Asia. One of the highlights of the Australian Haydn Ensemble's career was its performance at the 2015 Musica Viva Festival in Sydney. The ensemble performed a program of music by Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven, which was highly praised by critics and audiences alike. The ensemble's performance was described as "exquisite" and "impeccable" by The Sydney Morning Herald. In addition to its performances, the Australian Haydn Ensemble has also received numerous awards and accolades. In 2014, the ensemble was awarded the prestigious APRA-AMCOS Art Music Award for Excellence in a Regional Area. The award recognized the ensemble's commitment to bringing high-quality classical music to regional areas of Australia. The Australian Haydn Ensemble's repertoire is focused on music from the classical and early romantic periods, with a particular emphasis on the music of Haydn. The ensemble's performances are characterized by their historically informed approach, which involves using period instruments and playing techniques to recreate the sound and style of the music as it would have been heard during the time it was composed. One of the ensemble's most popular programs is its "Haydn's London" program, which features music that Haydn composed during his time in London in the 1790s. The program includes some of Haydn's most famous works, including his "London" symphonies and his "Surprise" symphony. Another popular program is the ensemble's "Mozart's Last Symphonies" program, which features Mozart's final three symphonies. The program is notable for its use of period instruments, which gives the music a unique and authentic sound. The Australian Haydn Ensemble has also collaborated with a number of other musicians and ensembles. In 2017, the ensemble collaborated with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra to perform a program of music by Bach and Vivaldi. The collaboration was highly successful, with critics praising the ensemble's "impeccable" playing and the "seamless" integration of the two ensembles. Overall, the Australian Haydn Ensemble is a highly respected and accomplished classical music ensemble. The ensemble's commitment to historically informed performances and its dedication to bringing high-quality classical music to audiences throughout Australia and beyond have made it one of the country's leading classical music ensembles.

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