The death of Prince Nikolaus Esterházy in September 1790 marked a turning point in Haydn’s career. The Prince’s son, Anton, did not share his father’s love of music and promptly disbanded the court orchestra, keeping Haydn, who had been in the family’s service for nearly thirty years, on as Kapellmeister in name only. Offers came flooding in to the newly emancipated composer who was on the point of accepting a post with the King of Naples when a stranger appeared at the door of his lodgings in Vienna and uttered the immortal words, ‘I am Salomon from London and have come to fetch you’.