Flute Concert with Frederick the Great in Sanssouci by Adolph von Menzel Photo: Public Domain
To celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Prussian King, Samantha Owens looked at the music of the Court of Frederick the Great.
The English writer on music, Charles Burney, visited the court in 1772 to interview several members of the King’s band and to hear for himself the talents of the flute-playing King.
He found that “[the King’s] performance surpassed, in many particulars, anything [he] had ever heard among dilettanti or even professors…”
Music Details:
QUANTZ: Presto from Flute Concerto in E minor - Ernst-Burghard Hilse (fl), Akademie für Alte Music Berlin (Berlin Classics 1025)
GA HOMILIUS: Aria, “Verheertes Land, in deinen Trümmern”, from Cantata Verwundrung, Mitleid, Furcht und Schrecken (Astonishment, pity, fear and dread) - Wilfried Jochens (tenor), Das kleine Konzert, cond. Hermann Max Capriccio 10 557
HASSE: Aria, “Son qual misera Colomba”, from Cleofide - Emma Kirkby (sop), Cappella Coloniensis, cond. William Christie (Phoenix Edition 178)
F. BENDA: Adagio, from Violin Sonata 23 in C minor - Leila Schayegh (vn), Václav Luks (fortepiano) (GLOSSA GCD 922507)
CH GRAUN: Aria, “Tra le procelle la sorto”, from Cleopatra e Cesare (1742) Isabel Bayrakdarian (sop), Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, dir. Jeanne Lamon (CBC Records SMCD 5233)
SCHAFFRATH: Adagio, from Sonata in A major for harpsichord obbligato and viola da gamba - Philippe Pierlot (vdg), Shalev Ad-El (hpd) (ACCENT ACC 20143)
JS BACH: Allegro, movt 3 from the Trio Sonata from the Musical Offering - Florilegium (CHANNEL CLASSIC CCS 14598)
QUANTZ: Arioso from Flute Concerto in E minor - Ernst-Burghard Hilse (fl), Akademie für Alte Music Berlin (Berlin Classics 1025)
