A few months ago when reviewing Harald Hoeren’s grand Telemann recital for CPO I lamented the deletion of Peter Ella’s Hungaroton traversal of Telemann’s Fantasies. Here’s the good news for those who missed it: this Centaur new release not only contains all of the music on the Hungaroton issue, but the performances are on par with Ella’s, the sound quality is vastly superior, and all is generously fit onto two CDs instead of three. (Despite Ella’s generally swifter tempos, Hungaroton merely replicated its three-LP set into a three-CD set). In addition, this is the first volume in what harpsichordist Joseph Payne promises to be a series devoted to the complete keyboard works of Telemann. Previous to this issue, the only available recording of Telemann’s Fantasies was a selection performed by John Butt for Harmonia Mundi.
While not strikingly original, Telemann’s fantasies are often highly inventive and always well-crafted. Telemann was overtly aware of prevailing styles outside of Germany and exploited this awareness as much here as he did in every area of his remarkably prolific oeuvre. Especially enjoyable is the second set of 12 fantasies (Telemann composed three) that collectively emulate the French models of the Couperins and of Rameau (complete with tempo indications such as “Tendrement-Vivement”, “Pompeusement-Allegrement”, etc.). All three of the abovementioned performers extract from these pastiches all of Telemann’s stylistic wit, introspection, and elegance, though Payne and Butt are preferred if only because their harpsichords are less clangy-sounding and are more convincingly recorded. Otherwise, to compare the quality of the performances would be futile–all three are very capable artists and ultimately serve Telemann well. Payne’s entertaining and informative notes tell you just about everything except the answer to what I want to know most: when can we expect Volume 2?
