Elector Charles Theodore, a ruler who cultivated contacts with figures like Voltaire, pursued an extensive cultural policy in his residences Mannheim and Schwetzingen.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Unlike many contemporaries who favored opera, Elector Charles Theodore recognized the potential of instrumental music, leading to its emancipation in Mannheim from 1742.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in February 2019 at the Landesmusikschule in Ried, Austria.
Historical Context
The Medici family's wealth indirectly laid the financial foundation for the flourishing musical culture under Elector Charles Theodore, who inherited their treasures.
Compositional Technique
The musical aesthetics of the Enlightenment called for a new simplicity, moving away from dazzling solo virtuosity towards equality between solo and orchestra, and elegant melodic lines.
Composer Biography
Johann Stamitz, a pioneer of new musical taste, was promoted to court director of instrumental music in Mannheim in 1750 by Elector Charles Theodore.
Album & Artwork
The album cover features 'Boy playing the flute', an early 1630s painting by Judith Leyster, from the Nationalmuseum Stockholm.
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