Cannabich, (Johann) Christian (1731-1798)

German violinist, conductor, and composer. After studying with Johann Stamitz in Mannheim and Niccolò Jommelli in Rome, Italy, he became Konzertmeister of the Mannheim orchestra in 1758 and director of instrumental music in 1774. From 1778 he worked in Munich. His conducting was admired by Mozart, who taught Cannabich's daughter Rosa in 1777 and wrote a piano sonata for her.

Works operas, ballets, including Renaud et Armide (1768), symphonies, chamber music.