Wind players (especially students) love Telemann if only because he provided them with plenty of repertoire to play. While sonatas for solo and various combinations of instruments comprise the bulk of Telemann’s output for winds, he also composed approximately 45 fully orchestrated (for his day) wind concertos. This is Volume 1 in which CPO (the inordinately Telemann-friendly German label) apparently begins a complete concerto cycle (Volume 2 already has been released).
While all five concertos on this program are typically well-crafted and technically refined, only one–the Concerto in E minor TWV 52:e1–represents Telemann at his most inspired. International stylistic influences are kept to a minimum; dynamic and chromatic variety also is sorely lacking throughout. However, the E minor work, with its haunting opening Largo, inventive rhythmic shifts in the second-movement Allegro, and hyper-spirited snappy Presto finale, is first-rate Telemann.
La Stagione Frankfurt delivers an excellent performance here, though Musica Antiqua Koln’s more engaging, spellbinding account in its single-disc selection (Archiv) of Telemann’s wind concertos (still available as a download from Amazon or as a special order from Arkivmusic.com) remains the one to beat. The sound is quite good with excellent clarity and acoustic presence. Notes and presentation as well are up to CPO’s usual high standards. Staunch Telemann fans, as well as students of this repertoire, will find much to enjoy here. Others, especially those new to the composer, are advised to begin elsewhere.
