Musik der Hamburger Pfeffersäcke (FLAC)

Performer: Yeree Suh
Orchestra: Elbipolis Barockorchester Hamburg
Composer: Georg Philipp Telemann, George Frederick Handel, Reinhard Keiser
Audio CD
Number of Discs: 1
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Raum Klang
Size: 364 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

01. Overture: L’Omphale, suite for strings & continuo in E minor, TWV 55:e8: Ouverture
02. Overture: L’Omphale, suite for strings & continuo in E minor, TWV 55:e8: Pastorale
03. Overture: L’Omphale, suite for strings & continuo in E minor, TWV 55:e8: Bourée
04. Overture: L’Omphale, suite for strings & continuo in E minor, TWV 55:e8: Passepied
05. Overture: L’Omphale, suite for strings & continuo in E minor, TWV 55:e8: Les Jeux
06. Overture: L’Omphale, suite for strings & continuo in E minor, TWV 55:e8: Les Magiciens
07. Overture: L’Omphale, suite for strings & continuo in E minor, TWV 55:e8: Menuet en Rondeau
08. Work(s): Lebe doch mein werthes Licht (from lost opera ‘L’Omphale’)
09. Sinfonia in B flat major, HWV 339: Allegro
10. Sinfonia in B flat major, HWV 339: Adagio
11. Sinfonia in B flat major, HWV 339: Allegro
12. Work(s): Ich sagte gern ich wäre frey (from lost opera “L’Omphale”)
13. Sonata a 5 for violin & strings in B flat major (Sonata à Cinque), HWV 288: Andante
14. Sonata a 5 for violin & strings in B flat major (Sonata à Cinque), HWV 288: Adagio
15. Sonata a 5 for violin & strings in B flat major (Sonata à Cinque), HWV 288: Allegro
16. Hercules und Hebe suite, for orchestra: Ouverture
17. Hercules und Hebe suite, for orchestra: Menuet
18. Hercules und Hebe suite, for orchestra: Entrée alternativement avec le Trio
19. Hercules und Hebe suite, for orchestra: Aria alla Battaglia
20. Hercules und Hebe suite, for orchestra: Aria con Oboe solo
21. Hercules und Hebe suite, for orchestra: Chaconne en Rondeau: Betrüber Geist
22. Hercules und Hebe suite, for orchestra: Recitativo: Ihr, die ihr euch an diesen Frühlingskindern
23. Hercules und Hebe suite, for orchestra: Menuet der Gärtner
24. Hercules und Hebe suite, for orchestra: Entrée alternativement – Entrée der himmlischen Geister
25. Hercules und Hebe suite, for orchestra: Gigue

Spicy music from Hamburg

This is definitely a recording that will sharpen your ears and whet your appetite. The programme of Handel, Telemann and Keiser is shaped with a sense of having something to say. The accompanying booklet doesn’t say much about the music but, the anonymous letter from 1708 which tells much about Hamburg as a blossoming city of music at that time.

The playing is one to a part, and if that sounds like a terrible anaemic soundscape, think one more time. RaumKlang has done excellent work in recording these gems. The sound is crisp and full without making the instruments sound unnaturally close. Telemann’s Overture “L’Omphale” in e minor has an impressive air of tragedy to it’s scoring with strings, BC, recorder and oboes. I’d also like to single out Handel’s Sinfonia in B flat major. I’ve never heard this played so well. The tempo is breathtakingly fast, but the attention to detail is also quite fantastic – Listen to it and you sure will see that the anonymous early 18th century author of the letter in the booklet was right in claiming a bright future for Handel even though he had just heard a few pieces of him.

Reinhard Keiser’s Overture is also impressive and full of wit and élan. The percussions and winds are very colourfull and the mighty chaconne adds well to the tragic mood to what Telemann opened this CD with.

The Korean soprano Yeree Suh is also an exceptionally musician. My one criticism of this CD is that I’d like to hear more of her. She sings with a rare intelligence and taste. Her embellishments are sober, yet they seem to do more to the music than I noticed at the first hearing, and a cantata or some more arias would be welcome from her on this disc. This is a truly unique CD, and if it is true that you can’t buy yourself love, you can at least buy yourself bliss and happiness with this marvellous music.