Get your fresh Telemann here

• Published in: Early music 2016-05, Vol.44 (2), p.351-353
• Main Author: Lehman, Bradley
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Recording reviews
• ISSN: 0306-1078; 1741-7260
• DOI: 10.1093/em/caw050

Georg Philipp Telemann (16811767) wrote an enormous amount of music for instrumental and vocal ensembles. As shown in the detailed work-list of New Groves article about him, not all of it is catalogued in the Telemann-Werkverzeichnis (twv), or published. A vast amount of it is not yet recorded, either, despite the work of enterprising performers and record companies in the Telemann revival of the past 65 years. The 13 recent CDs presented here demonstrate the richness of this music. Let us begin with a terrific disc that has almost all world premiere recordings: Telemann: Sonaten, trios, concerti (Oehms Classics oc897, rec 2012, 63) played by LAccademia Giocosa. The ensemble is well named, as the performances sound joyful. The membership has an association with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, along with some freelance players. No one is credited as director. There are four to ten players, playing one-to-a-part in every piece. There are four violinists, but only two of them (at most) play in any piece. There are two pieces for strings alone; two add a flute, and the other two are for a larger ensemble including two oboes and bassoon. The booklet notes do not say much beyond a brief biographical sketch. The instruments are in Baroque style, but there is no information about them. Nevertheless, the performances sparkle with the freshness of discovery and a strong range of Affekt; I have found that I wanted to keep replaying this one for sheer enjoyment of Telemanns creative spirit. OA