Telemann: Grand Concertos, Vol. 5

The press has spoken of "stylistically flawless and tonally beautiful interpretations" and "listening experiences continuing to echo in the ears." And the works featured on Vol. 5 of our recording of Telemann’s concertos with mixed solo instruments (avec plusieurs instruments) once again display a high compositional level and Telemann’s frequently evoked "mixed style" with its manifold motivic shapes and extensive harmonic developments. The Divertimento TWV 50:21 opening Vol. 5 of Telemann’s concertos for mixed instruments from the last years of his life is richly pervaded by signal motifs in the horns, some of them referring to real hunting signals from those times. Its mixture of elements, some of them highly introspective, while others are very modern, offers especially eloquent testimony to Telemann’s heterogeneous late style. The work known as the "Cricket Symphony," surely presents what is an absolutely extravagant ensemble with two double basses concertizing right in the first movement, an Italian ritornello movement, with the winds in two long solo episodes. However, the use of the chalumeau and oboe and the combination (recommended by Telemann) featuring the "Traversiere l’ordinaire" and "cette à la octave" also lend this piece a very special "eccentric tonality."