What a discovery! Two dramatic works for chorus and orchestra that approach almost anything Handel wrote. The cantata Der Herr ist König praises God in a jubilant manner, opening with a splendid full chorus and closing with a chorale that uses the tune “Ein Feste burg”. Along the way there is an amazing aria for tenor with strings and very prominent timpani. Its virtuoso style is tossed off with passion and ease by Wilfried Jochens. Die Donnerode, or “The Thunder Ode”, was written in response to the great earthquake that destroyed Lisbon in 1755. Telemann uses no text that specifically mentions an earthquake, but there are lines about the voice of God rocking the oceans, with storms preceding him–not to mention His voice making the proud mountains collapse! These ideas are set to music that is simply breathtaking, the ultimate in word-painting. Once again, timpani are singularly prominent, this time accompanying a bass duet; and tenor Jochens gets a crack at two more florid arias that leave us, but not him, gasping in amazement. The other soloists are good, too, especially soprano Barbara Schlick, and the small chorus and orchestra play the spots off the notes. Conductor Hermann Max leads energized performances that could scarcely be better. The recorded sound does leave a little to be desired, being slightly cloaked and muffled. Don’t let that slight criticism stop you from discovering this exciting music.
