Christian Cannabich - Médor et Angélique (Anders Muskens)

Information

Composer: Christian Cannabich

• Médor et Angélique

João Luís Veloso Paixão, declamation

Das Neue Mannheimer Orchester

Rachael Beesley, concertmaster

Anders Muskens, harpsichord & direction

Date: 2026

Label: Leaf Music Distribution

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This album presents Christian Cannabich’s c. 1768 ballet Médor et Angélique ou Roland Furieux, based on Ludovico Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso. Directed from the harpsichord by Anders Muskens alongside concertmaster Rachael Beesley, Das Neue Mannheimer Orchester revived this neglected work using period instruments, rhetorical flair, and dramatic narration by João Luís Veloso Paixão. The performance traces a journey from idyllic French Baroque pastoral tableaux into violent, frenzied madness upon Roland’s arrival, before ultimately resolving into a majestic calm. Supported by the Canada Council for the Arts and Forschungszentrum HOF | MUSIK | STADT, the release celebrates the visionary cultural legacy of Elector Carl Theodor.

Born in Mannheim, German composer and violinist Christian Cannabich (1731–1798) trained under Johann Stamitz and Niccolò Jommelli before becoming the leader and eventually director of the famed Mannheim court orchestra. Renowned for his exceptional leadership and Parisian publishing success, Cannabich fostered a close friendship with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who praised his conducting and frequented his household. Beyond his influential orchestral leadership, Cannabich was a prolific composer particularly celebrated for his dramatic ballets alongside ballet-master Etienne Lauchery. Despite facing severe financial cutbacks during his final years at court, Cannabich remains a pivotal figure in European classical music history.

Anders Muskens (b. 1993) is an acclaimed Canadian fortepianist, harpsichordist, and musicologist specializing in 18th- and early 19th-century keyboard performance. He holds a PhD in musicology from the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen and a Master of Music from the Royal Conservatoire of The Hague. Founder and director of Das Neue Mannheimer Orchester, Muskens revives historical masterworks through acclaimed performances at venues like Het Concertgebouw and an extensive discography featuring works by Beethoven, Vogler, and Cannabich. Praised by Early Music America for his expressive, revolutionary interpretations, Muskens integrates deep aesthetic research with dynamic artistry, earning numerous international awards and artist residencies.

High Resolution 24-bit / 96 kHz