Haydn’s operas are little-performed today though many of them were immensely popular during his lifetime, being staged far beyond the wealthy Esterháza court for which they were written. They range from dark, supernatural dramas to lighthearted capers, one even including a character tricked into believing he is on the moon. These overtures give free rein to Haydn’s musical gifts and dramatic flair, encapsulating in miniature the emotional range of the operas themselves.