Telemann String Concertos Musica Antiqua Koln Goebel

Georg Philipp Telemann (Composer), Reinhard Goebel (Conductor), Musica Antiqua Koln (Orchestra)

Product Details

• Orchestra: Musica Antiqua Koln
• Conductor: Reinhard Goebel
• Composer: Georg Philipp Telemann
• Audio CD (July 18, 2000)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Archiv Produktion
• ASIN: B00004T764
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #46,848 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #6 in	Music > Classical > Featured Performers, A-Z > ( C ) > Cologne Musica Antiqua
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  #14 in	Music > Classical > Instruments > Strings > Viola

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Georg Philipp Telemann's string concertos position themselves somewhere between the polyphonic complexity of the Bach orchestral sinfonias, the urbanity of Handel's concerti grossi, and Vivaldi's innumerable and endlessly delightful works of this type. But his approach always remained the most international as well as the most local. Two of these concertos, for example, exemplify the "Polish" style appropriate for the Electors of Saxony (Telemann's employers, who were also kings of Poland), with their folky rhythms and groaning bass parts. Telemann offers a bit of the French style galant here or Italian theatricality there--he's labeled one of the movements "Arlechinoso"--as the mood and moment suit him. Reinhard Goebel and the Musica Antiqua Köln dress these motleys with typical panache, a liveliness that argues once again for the validity of the period-instruments approach. One can well imagine Telemann hearing his music performed this way and nodding in approval. What the players have brought to Johann David Heinichen and some of the Baroque composers of the Baltic states serves them perfectly here: the conviction that while not all 18th-century music may match Bach's profundity, much of it nevertheless shows us a very good time. And that Telemann, perhaps, can show us the best time of all. --Robert Burns Neveldine

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Goebel and MAK still the best out there, October 16, 2000

By A Customer

Although the number of orchestras which specialize in early music has grown tremendously over the last quarter century, Reinhard Goebel and MAK continue to remain a notch above all the rest, as this Telemann CD shows. They are the most technically proficient ensemble in the world; they have a lush, wonderfully rich and full string sound which no other group is able to match; they continue to unearth previously unknown musical gems; and they remain the most innovative, exciting group around, with an uncanny ability to stir the listener like nobody else. It doesn't matter that the personnel keeps changing; with Goebel and his musical ideas guiding the group, they will maintain their standard of excellence. This CD is full of some wonderful pieces, and MAK makes them all come alive with excitement. The viola concerto in G-Major has never sounded as good as it does here with Florian Deuter. Nobody has played Telemann better over the past 25 years than this group, and that remains true today.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Top-notch performance of a well-selected A-list, January 30, 2003

By	cmpst52 "cmpst52" (Denton, NC United States) - See all my reviews

The Music Antiqua Cologne are my favorite ensemble; their playing is always top-notch. Further, this is a selection of some of Telemann's best works.

This is among the best CD's I've ever heard; great playing, great composing.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Superbly played mediocrity..., December 3, 2007

By	Teop Tnomrev "Goodpuppy" (Vermont, USA) - See all my reviews

While acknowledging that one does not go to Telemann in search of anything like profundity, these concertos chosen by Goebel are vacuous even by Telemann's standards.

The only concerto with any sort of harmonic rigor and emotional expressiveness is the Concerto in G "a sei". This one is up to the standards of Telemann's Tafelmusik -- music in which he really applied himself. The last concerto for 2 Viols is slightly less interesting but possibly worth knowing.

The rest are cotton candy, and conductors like Goebel probably picked them for the same reason Telemann wrote them. They sell music. Any one less familiar with baroque music and classical music will probably enjoy them very much. But they're like over-sweet gum drops. It won't take long before you have had your fill of them and want something a little more substantial.

Good background music, but that's all.

I don't blame Telemann. The man knew how to make a living. I blame Goebel for his lack of taste. Telemann wrote far better stuff.