Station: [3] Frederick the Great and Music (Nos. 22 & 23)

Here you can see two flutes that belonged to King Frederick II, better known as Frederick the Great or “Old Fritz.”

This arguably most famous Prussian king, in stark contrast to his father, initially had no military inclinations at all. Instead, he preferred to devote himself to the fine arts. Music, in particular, was close to his heart.

Frederick was a passionate flutist. He enjoyed playing music alongside professional artists. Among others, he received lessons from Johann Joachim Quantz. The transverse flute made of ebony and silver that you see here in the display case under number 22 was crafted by none other than Quantz himself. A document preserved in the case confirms that this flute came from the king’s personal collection.

Next to it, you can see the second flute, number 23. It is made of ivory. It was crafted in London around 1750. For the king, it was a valuable instrument used for official occasions.

Frederick II did not just play the flute; he also composed himself. He wrote 121 flute sonatas, four flute concertos, and two symphonies. These numbers show how important music was in his life.

Frederick’s love of music is particularly well known thanks to a famous painting by Adolph von Menzel from 1852: “Frederick the Great’s Flute Concert at Sanssouci.” Today it is housed in the Alte Nationalgalerie in Berlin. The painting has strongly shaped the image of Frederick as a king who played music.

And yet it’s worth taking a second look. For the scene Menzel depicts is fictional. Frederick did indeed frequently perform his own compositions for his guests before dinner. But this particular moment is not a recorded reality, but rather an artistic interpretation.

That is precisely what makes the two flutes here so captivating. They do not draw you into a painted scene, but bring you very close to the king’s personal musical life.