Peire: Telemann – Overtures (8 CD, FLAC)

Composer: Georg Philipp Telemann
Orchestra: Collegium Instrumentale Brugense
Conductor: Patrick Peire
Audio CD
Number of Discs: 8
Format: FLAC (image+cue)
Label: Brilliant Classics
Size: 2.58 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: no

CD 01
[1]-[7] Overture in D major TWV55: D18 for two trumpets, timpani, strings and basso continuo
[8]-[14] Overture in G major TWV55: G10 ‘Burlesque de Quixotte’ for strings and basso continuo
[15]-[21] Overture in C minor TWV55: c2 for two oboes, strings and basso continuo
[22]-[30] Overture in D major TWV55: D4 for two oboes, recorder. two violins, strings and basso continuo

CD 02
[1]-[9] Overture in F major TWV55: F11 ‘Alster’ for four horns, two oboes, basson, strings and basso continuo
[10]-[17] Overture in B flat major TWV55: B5 ‘Völker’ for strings and basso continuo
[18]-[26] Overture in D minor TWV55: d2 for oboe, strings and basso continuo
[27]-[32] Overture in B flat major TWV55: B7 for two oboes, bassoon, strings and basso continuo

CD 03
[1]-[7] Overture in A minor TWV55: a4 for two recorders, two oboes, strings and basso continuo
[8]-[13] Overture in A major TWV55: A4 for violin, strings and basso continuo
[14]-[22] Overture in D major TWV55: D23 for two flutes, bassoon, horn, strings and basso continuo
[23]-[31] Overture in G major TWV55: G4 ‘Des Nations anciens et modernes’ for strings and basso continuo

CD 04
[1]-[7] Overture in D major TWV55: D22 ‘Ouverture jointes d’une Suite tragi-comique’ for three trumpets, timpani, strings and basso continuo
[8]-[14] Overture in E minor TWV55: e7 for strings and basso continuo
[15]-[21] Overture in B minor TWV55: h4 for violin, strings and basso continuo
[22]-[26] Overture in E minor TWV55: e3 for two flutes, two oboes, bassoon, two violins, strings and basso continuo
[27] Overture in C minor TWV55: c4 for two oboes, violin, strings and basso continuo

CD 05
[1]-[9] Overture in D minor TWV55: d3 for three oboes, bassoon, strings and basso continuo
[10]-[14] Overture in F major TWV55: F4 for horns, strings and basso continuo (TWV44: 7)
[15]-[20] Overture in B flat major TWV55: B11 ‘La Bourse’ for two oboes, bassoon, strings and basso continuo
[21]-[27] Overture in E flat major TWV55: Es1 for two horns (ad lib.), strings and basso continuo

CD 06
[1]-[8] Overture in C major TWV55: C6 for three oboes, strings and basso continuo
[9]-[17] Overture in F minor TWV55: f1 for two recorders, strings and basso continuo
[18]-[24] Overture in B flat major TWV55: B8 ‘Burlesque’ for strings and basso continuo
[25]-[31] Overture in G minor TWV55: g9 for two oboes, bassoon, strings and basso continuo

CD 07
[1]-[7] Overture in D major TWV55: D17 for two trumpets, bassoon, strings and basso continuo
[8]-[14] Overture in A major TWV55: A2 for strings and basso continuo
[15]-[21] Overture in A minor TWV55: a2 for recorder, strings and basso continuo
[22]-[28] Overture in E minor TWV55: e8 ‘l’Omphale’ for two oboes, bassoon, strings and basso continuo

CD 08
[1]-[7] Overture in F major TWV55: F16 ‘Pour S.A.S. Monseigneur Le Landgrave de Darmstadt’ for two horns, bassoon, strings and basso continuo
[8]-[15] Overture in G minor TWV55: g2 ‘La Changeante’ for strings and basso continuo
[16]-[20] Overture in G major TWV55: G7 for two oboes, violin, strings and basso continuo
[21]-[26] Overture in D major TWV55: D13 ‘La Gaillarde’

Welcome to the greatest composer of baroque instrumental music

Wouldn’t that have been fantastic: a COMPLETE recording of Telemann’s surviving orchestral suites. Brilliant Classics/Collegium Instrumentale Brugense promised us as much, but alas, it was not to be. And maybe it never will be, because since there are more than 120 of these compositions, which would imply the production of 30+ CDs, the task is a huge one. It’s worthwhile, nonetheless. Now I will concede that while many of them are superb, some of Telemann’s concertos are less inspired than others – not so with his orchestral suites. They may be colossal or they may be modest and small, but all of them are just this: typically Telemann. This is a field where he simply could not fail. A musical universe of its very own, full of good cheer, noble serenity and whim. Formal experiments there are none, and they are not needed because the French overture is a perfect musical form; it’s the variation within this form that counts. Some of the most impressive and beautiful suites still have never been put on CD (I know them from radio only), and thinking of this neglect makes me shake my head in disbelief. What a shame it is how this music still tends to be ignored, in favour of the millionth version of the Four Seasons (or, for that matter, Telemann’s own output in other genres). — Happily, however, five of the previous unknowns are presented for the first time on this set of discs! The performances by CIB/Patrick Peire are solid if somewhat inconsistent, ranging from near-excellent to just decent. Although I’ll always prefer the sound of a well-recorded period instruments ensemble, they show how well Telemann’s works can be played on modern instruments, too: the choice isn’t really that essential. The overtures’ repeats are not observed, which is understandable (because the longish ones would be really long then) but a downer. Comparing CIB’s renderings of the better-known works (e.g. the “famous” Alster-Ouvertüre) with other existing recordings, it soon becomes evident that this release leaves a thing or two to be desired: G. Ph. Telemann deserves (even) better. But with clear sound, an abundance of delightful music and great value for money, the set can safely be recommended as an ideal place to start, a fine opportunity to get acquainted with a woefully underrated, but truly original and incredibly inventive baroque master.