Frederick The Great

Frederick II of Prussia, better known as “the Great”, lived at a time when the decline of the absolutist powers of “Kings” came into conflict with the advent of “Reason, the Enlightenment”. Frederick reformed the military and government, established religious tolerance and granted a basic form of freedom of the press. He bolstered the legal system and established the first German code of law. Of all things, Frederick the Great, as he became to be known, left a legacy of devotion to Germany, which also was evident in his love for the arts.

This two-disc package from Emmanuel Pahud explores the music performed at the court of King Frederick the Great of Prussia. Frederick was an accomplished amateur flutist, and, thus, cultivated music for his instrument from the best composers of his day. This included Johann Sebastian Bach, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, and Johann Joachim Quantz. Frederick himself and his sister Anna Amalia also composed works featuring the flute.