Anders Muskens leads the international ensemble Das Neue Mannheimer Orchester along with Canadian soprano Elisabeth Hetherington in a concert showcasing symphonies and opera from the golden age of the Mannheim court during 1750–78. The then-famous Mannheim orchestra and its school inspired generations of composers, including a young Mozart who travelled there in 1777. “Army of Generals” comes from a quote by English musicologist Charles Burney, who visited Mannheim and Schwetzingen (the summer residence of the court) in 1772 and wrote: “There are more solo players and good composers in this, than perhaps in any other orchestra in Europe; it is an army of generals, equally fit to plan a battle, as to fight it.” We seek to revive this often neglected repertory and explore what made it so captivating for eighteenth-century audiences; and certainly also modern ones.

Anders Muskens leads the international ensemble Das Neue Mannheimer Orchester along with Canadian soprano Elisabeth Hetherington in a concert showcasing symphonies and opera from the golden age of the Mannheim court during 1750–78. The then-famous Mannheim orchestra and its school inspired generations of composers, including a young Mozart who travelled there in 1777. “Army of Generals” comes from a quote by English musicologist Charles Burney, who visited Mannheim and Schwetzingen (the summer residence of the court) in 1772 and wrote: “There are more solo players and good composers in this, than perhaps in any other orchestra in Europe; it is an army of generals, equally fit to plan a battle, as to fight it.” We seek to revive this often neglected repertory and explore what made it so captivating for eighteenth-century audiences; and certainly also modern ones.

Classical music and contemporary dance merge in a unique and powerful performance. The choreography of Dimo Milev, together with Aya Misaky and Elaine Meijerink will present you the music of Mozart, Beethoven and Dussek under a new and unexpected light.