We have here world premiere recordings of every single work on the disc. This is not such a difficult achievement considering we’re dealing with Telemann – one of the most prolific composers who every lived. The concept of this album is that the vast majority of Telemann’s huge opera were in major keys – this collection leans heavily toward the key of G Major, though with a twist at the conclusion of a work in G Minor. Many different European musical cultures are to be found in Telemann’s music, in often unexpected combinations. His late Baroque style includes movements in the opening Orchestral Suite of first a French overture, then an Italian air, and later some less elegant German music with sounds of native hunting horns and bagpipes. This is one of seven orchestral suites by Telemann, and six of them end with a savage dance called a Furie.
The other work here that especially attracted me was the Concerto grosso featuring a pair of flutes plus a bassoon against the strings and continuo. The writing for the little wind trio is unusual; it often has themes quite different from those heard in the strings, and the Largo movement is mostly for the three winds alone. The rousing Presto movement which closes the work is a blaze of virtuoso dance-like passages for the wind trio and strings. Both performing and recording standards are at the highest level, as in all the Caro Mitis releases.
– John Sunier
