Search - Georg Philipp Telemann, Nicholas Ward, Northern Chamber Orchestra :: Telemann: Don Quixote; Orchestral Suites

Thoroughly Delightful Telemann

J Scott Morrison | Middlebury VT, USA | 09/09/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Telemann, four years Bach's elder and outliving him by almost twenty years, enjoyed a renown during his lifetime that Bach never did. He was a church musician--he wrote far more cantatas than Bach--but he was also a man of the theater and an astute businessman in Hamburg where he lived most of his adult life. And on this disc we have some of his most delightful secular music.The 'Don Quixote' suite celebrates Cervantes' novel in which 'life is a dream, and even dreams are dreams.' We have sections from the book illustrated with pointed tone-painting, e.g. Quixote's sighs after the 'lovely Dulcinea' or the somewhat lame trotting of Quixote's broken-down 'steed,' Rosinante. This is a late piece and shows a good deal of French influence, as do the two other suites included here, each opening with a French 'ouverture' with typical dotted rhythms.The other two suites are the 'Ouverture in d minor' consisting of mostly French dances (but including a not-very-English-sounding hornpipe) and the E Flat Suite, subtitled 'La Lyra.' The word 'lyra' refers to the third movement which imitates, by means of droning fifths, the hurdy-gurdy, once known as the 'lyra mendicorum' ('beggar's lyre'). I tend to prefer baroque orchestral music played on modern instruments but with some modicum of baroque performance practice. The playing by the conductorless modern-instrument group, the Northern Chamber Orchestra, is exemplary. These Manchester musicians play with impeccable ensemble, an apt lightness of tone and striking rhythmic alertness. The recorded sound is remarkably lifelike. All in all, this is a wonderful issue. There's lots more secular Telemann to be recorded--he was an indefatigable worker--and one can hope that this group records more of it.Recommended.A slightly short timing at TT=57:08.Scott Morrison"

Absolutely Delightful

David Avender | Los Palomitas, British Columbia, CANADA | 06/13/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Telemann's "Quixote" is as bright and delightful a suite as I've ever heard. I'm giddy and can not recommend this particular CD sufficiently."