Georg Philipp Telemann: Harmonischer Gottes-Dienst, Volume 7: Six Cantatas
This is the seventh CD in the first complete recording of the 72 cantatas in Georg Philipp Telemann’s collection Harmonischer Gottes-Dienst, published in Hamburg in 1726 – the first complete set of cantatas for the liturgical year to appear in print. The cantatas are designated for voice, an obligato instrument (recorder, violin, transverse flute or oboe) and basso continuo, and generally take the form of two da capo arias with an intervening recitative. Although intended for worship, both public and private, Telemann’s cantatas are a masterly blend of tunefulness with skilled counterpoint and vocal and instrumental virtuosity.
Bergen Barokk
Franz Vitzthum, counter-tenor
Peter Holtslag, transverse flute
Thomas C. Boysen, theorbo
Markku Luolajan-Mikkola, bass viola da gamba
Hans Knut Sveen, harpsichord (1-6, 10-12,16-18), organ (7-9, 13-15)
Listen To This Recording:
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Fourth Sunday after Easter: Ew’ge Quelle, milder Strom, TWV 1:546
- Arie
- Rezitativ
- Arie
- Arie
- Rezitativ
- Arie
- Arie
- Rezitativ
- Arie
- Arie
- Rezitativ
- Arie
- Arie
- Rezitativ
- Arie
- Arie
- Rezitativ
- Arie
Second Sunday after Trinity: Stille die Tränen des winselnden Armen, TWV 1:1401
Sixth Sunday after Trinity: Ich bin getauft in Christi Tode, TWV 1:820*
Tenth Sunday after Trinity: Kein Vogel kann im weiten Fliegen, TWV 1:994
Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity: Ich schaue bloss auf Gottes Güte, TWV 1:859*
22nd Sunday after Trinity: Erhalte mich, o Herr, in deinem Werke, TWV 1:449
* FIRST RECORDINGS
the Ultimate Classical Music Guide :
‘Mr. Vitzthum here is actually quite good. I mean his voice is attractive and he sings with enthusiasm […] It is an impressive series […] The solo playing is lovely. the instrumental playing is fine […] The music is charming […] {the music is} charming, pleasant, and often quite tuneful, catchily tuneful, nicely tune full, pleasing to listen to. What really got me was the text […] Here [the texts] are lovely. the poems are charming. The poems are what I think the religion should be about. […] Give volume a try’
—David Hurwitz, the Ultimate Classical Music Guide
Early Music Review :
‘This is a wonderful pre-Christmas gift; and we are in safe hands with both composer and ensemble. […] these finely crafted works are easily on par with Handel’s nine German Arias, and offer a very decent range of unforced expressivity for the solo vocalist […]
{These are] such engaging performances, combining to form an intimate, edifying listen to some beautifully contoured cantatas from Telemann’s 1725-6 published cycle. A fine continuation of the series.’
—David Bellinger, Early Music Review
Klassisk Musikk :
‘Men glem årstallet, om innspillingene er tretten år gamle, lyder de som om de var tatt opp i for en måned siden. Fremførelsene er nok en gang fantastiske, med lett berøring og uttrykksmessig schwung, som nevnt i de tidligere kritikkene, og de fem musikerne byr igjen på en atmosfære av intimitet og førsteklasses kammermusikk, nydelig gjengitt i disse fremragende opptakene. Kontratenor Fran Vitzthum og fløytist Peter Holtslag er, uansett hvilket perspektiv man velger, ideelle utøvere av dette repertoaret, og når de følges opp av Thomas Boysen (theorbe), Markku Luolajan-Mikkola (bass viola da gamba) og Hans Knut Sveen (cembalo og orgel) har man en oppskrift på perfeksjon. Denne platen er ren glede og har holdt det gående i min CD-spiller i noen dager nå….’
English translation:
‘But forget the year, if the recordings are thirteen years old, they sound as if they were recorded a month ago. The performances are once again wonderful, with a light touch and expressive swing, as mentioned in the previous reviews, and the five musicians again offer an atmosphere of intimacy and first-class chamber music, beautifully reproduced in these outstanding recordings. Countertenor Fran Vitzthum and flutist Peter Holtslag are, no matter which perspective you choose, ideal performers of this repertoire, and when they are followed by Thomas Boysen (theorbo), Markku Luolajan-Mikkola (bass viola da gamba) and Hans Knut Sveen (harpsichord and organ) you have a recipe for perfection. This disc is pure joy and has been running in my CD player for a few days now….’
—Guy Rickards, Klassisk Musikk