It was an ideal constellation for an extraordinary musical event: the coincidence of the Haydn anniversary year with the 80th birthday of Nikolaus Harnoncourt. The universally acclaimed specialist of the Viennese Classical era chose a work by Haydn for his birthday tribute, "Il Mondo della Luna". The dramma giocoso of 1777 is a delicious mixture of satire, comedy and science fiction based on an immensely popular comedy by 18th-century dramatist Carlo Goldoni. The plot is a tall tale of good-natured trickery in the name of love; the music a fireworks of spirited solo pieces and ensembles performed with irrepressible energy by Harnoncourt and his Concentus Musicus Wien. Renowned actor and director Tobias Moretti relates the story as a light-footed, magical fairy tale infused with slapstick, witty details and fantasy costumes. The production from Vienna's Theater an der Wien, known for its innovative and groundbreaking stagings, is "an electrifying birthday gift for - and above all from - Nikolaus Harnoncourt" (Der Standard).