These cantatas are from Telemann’s Harmonisches Gottesdienst (Harmonious Service), a collection of 72 works, one for each Sunday and feast day of the Lutheran church year. All are brief (the five here average about 10 minutes each), are structurally similar (an opening and closing aria surrounding a recitative), and feature a single soloist assisted by a small group of four or five instrumentalists. Unlike most cantatas written during this period, which were destined for the church, Telemann instead intended these for more private occasions, to be performed by amateurs instead of professionals. And accordingly, nothing here proves challenging for soprano Ruth Ziesak–or for any of the very capable members of the Camerata Köln, for that matter. In fact, in the liner notes the group’s director Michael Schneider quotes Telemann as specifying that even the more highly expressive passages are to be recited strictly “with a moderated fire”.
Given these parameters (and without expectation of being overly impressed by the action) the program nevertheless offers many lovely and enjoyable moments. The first movement to Die Glut des Zorns (The glowing brands of fury) is richly melodic for Ziesak and full of rhythmic diversity for the instrumentalists. Ziesak’s closing aria from Ein Jammerton… (A woeful sound) also affords her ample opportunity to display her glowing coloratura, this time amid Telemann’s playfully inventive wind arrangements. Supplementing the program, Camerata Köln’s organist Sabine Bauer performs a brief yet delightful fugue from Telemann’s 20 Kleine Fugen (1731) between each cantata.
CPO’s sound is very good–with a clear, natural quality in the voice and vibrant presence in the instrumental ensemble. Schneider’s notes are informative and feature many fascinating if not telling anecdotes: I especially enjoyed the one linking the relationship between Telemann’s “restless publishing activity” and his “personal catastrophe” (i.e., his bitter, unfaithful wife squandering the equivalent of about 300,000 euros). Recommended to all Telemann fans.
