Telemann: Flute Concertos; Emmanuel Pahud

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
This is a delightful record. Telemann, one of the most prolific composers of all time, wrote music that is technically masterful, endlessly inventive, full of surprises, emotionally mercurial, and continuously engaging. In these five concertos, composed over two decades, the solo flutist is often joined by one or more soloists from the ranks of the orchestra, who, as in Telemann's day, are all fully equal to the task. This results in a wide variety of combinations and colors, illustrating Telemann's skill in displaying each instrument at its best, so as to "give the player joy, the listener pleasure," as he himself put it.

These performances certainly radiate infectious enjoyment. The concertos all follow the traditional form, alternating four slow and fast movements, but are infinitely diverse in tonality, texture, mood, and character. There are carefree, sprightly, playful, elegant dances, humorous imitation games, brilliant passage-work and cadenzas, startling chromaticisms, and deeply expressive melodies that beguile the ear and touch the heart. The first movement of the opening Concerto is so reminiscent of a Bach Arioso that one of the two composers must have "borrowed" it from the other. The playing is superb in a modified period-style: the pitch is normal; the sound wonderfully pure, but rich and full; tempi are designed to invite both virtuosity and leisurely enjoyment of musical and expressive details. Pahud uses a narrow, restrained vibrato that underlines the flawless beauty of his tone. The other players, all like him present or past principals of the Berlin Philharmonic, match him in the perfection of their intonation, phrasing, and ensemble. --Edith Eisler

Telemann: Flute Concertos; Emmanuel Pahud, Music, Emmanuel Pahud, Georg Philipp Telemann, Rainer Kussmaul, Berlin Baroque Soloists, Chamber Music & Recitals, Classical, Classical Artists, Classical Music, Concerto, Concerto for Three Solo Instruments, Flute Concerto, Oboe Concerto

Average customer rating:

Telemann: Pleasurable Instrumentation - Modern Flute + Oboe D'Amore

Elegance and Charm, Not to Mention Beauty

Telemann Perfection

Pahud makes a strong case, with two debut recordings

Telemann: Flute Concertos; Emmanuel Pahud
Emmanuel Pahud , Rainer Kussmaul , and Berlin Baroque Soloists
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Classical | Styles | Music
General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
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Telemann: Concertos & Sonatas

ASIN: B00006L3S5
Release Date: 2003-01-07

Tracks:

Andante
Vivace
Adagio
Allegro
Largo
Allegro
Gratioso
Allegro
Lentement
[Ohne Satzbezeichnung]
Loure
[Rondeau]
Andante
Allegro
Siciliano
Vivace
Moderato
Allegro
Largo
Vivace

Amazon.com

This is a delightful record. Telemann, one of the most prolific composers of all time, wrote music that is technically masterful, endlessly inventive, full of surprises, emotionally mercurial, and continuously engaging. In these five concertos, composed over two decades, the solo flutist is often joined by one or more soloists from the ranks of the orchestra, who, as in Telemann's day, are all fully equal to the task. This results in a wide variety of combinations and colors, illustrating Telemann's skill in displaying each instrument at its best, so as to "give the player joy, the listener pleasure," as he himself put it.

Customer Reviews:

Telemann: Pleasurable Instrumentation - Modern Flute + Oboe D'Amore .......2007-06-12

"Give every instrument what suits it best. The player will enjoy himself and you'll be pleased." (Telemann - quoted from liner notes)

A couple of years ago, I played this recording of these flute concertos so much that I feel I lived in this music. I took them everywhere with me and listened to them all the time for several months. They are very beautiful, lively and will definitely lift the listener's spirits. The three other reviewers, particuarly Matthew M. Yau, have written very good and complete reviews. My only addition is to particularly praise the combination of the flute and oboe d'amore in the Concerto in E (#13-16) and the Vivace (#16) in particular. It is unbelieveably beautiful! I am also extremely fond of the Concerto in D (#17-20) and the Andante of the Concerto in G (#1). The liner notes tell an interesting story of this movement's reconstruction/restoration.

Elegance and Charm, Not to Mention Beauty.......2006-06-13

I'll leave the musical analysis to others here, but this is one of the most charming and lovely flute recordings I've come across. Pahud has the right felicitous touch for this charming---there's no other word for it---music from the prolific G.P. Telemann. I've listened to it many times and never tire of it. Really. It's terrific.

Telemann Perfection.......2005-07-08

Every recording I've heard from the EMI catalogue featuring Pahud and whatever orchestra he's accompanying has been splendid. He must have a great sense about whom to team up with and when. I really have to hand it to him and to his agent. This recording is no exception. Sublime interchange between composer, orchestra and soloist! Maestro Vivaldi lives on mainly in the vaults of Venice churches, where you have to travel to to appreciate the true quality of his music...It truly reverberates only in those ancient, richly adorned tempples.

The CD builds, fresco by fresco.. Starting with the Adagio driven G Major Flute , then travelling rather quickly to the Vivace second movement. The entire CD tends to be a study in that sort of contrast, which is one of the reasons that no matter in what venue we are listening to Vivaldi, he always mangaes to keep us alert! He was one of the first composers to engage in that sort of dimminuendo,zzzzzzzzzzzz.
Quiet you down to the stage that you're ready to nod off and then set a fire cracker off near your right ear!

Maybe not that bad, but I think Beethoven got a lot of his ideas in contrasting modes from first Vivaldi, then Mozart. It's just my own little theory, and I'm definitely no music maven, so just chalk it up to UFO theory type conjecture.

Don't let any of that dissuade you from purchasing this CD, however. It's clear, distinct, exceptionally executed! I can't detect a flaw in the ointment! 5 stars, no debate!

BK

Pahud makes a strong case, with two debut recordings.......2004-05-26

TELEMANN: FLUTE CONCERTOS is a rarely beautifully compilation. The five concertos for flute chosen for this recording illustrates exactly what suits the instrument best and accentuates the instrument's beauty. Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767) not only wrote concertos for one flute or two, but also variously combined the flute with other concertante instruments, showing the virtuoso flute in a wide range of different roles.

The five pieces heard in this compilation were composed over a period of more than 20 years and fully demonstrate Telemann's engagement with the concerto genre. In each of the five works almost every member in the orchestras at Telemann's disposal was capable of taking solo parts. The beauty of sound springs forth from the combination with softer tone of instruments such as oboe d'amore, viola d'amore or violone, which enhance the flute's brilliance and crispness, while an often astonishing playfulness could develop in the high registers when Telemann introduced a second flute or a violin, as manifested obviously in the Concerto for Flute, Violin, Cello, Strings and Continuo in A from "Musique de Table I" (5-8).

Concerto for Flute, Strings and Continuo in G (1-4) is a first recording because the only manuscript copy of the parts was in an extremely poor condition that the piece was sadly considered unplayable (until 2000). The concerto was composed for oboe as well as for the transverse flute of the time. The andante movement is the most beautiful movement, so elegantly and stately executed. Pahud makes such a strong case for the first recording of this concerto.

Concerto for Flute, Violin, Cello, Strings and Continuo in A from "Musique de Table I" (5-8) is probably the most beautiful concerto in Musique de Table. The agility and swiftness of notes best suited the festive occasions for which Telemann composed in 1733. This might be the most well-known and most played piece out of this compilation. Even Handel himself performed some of the pieces and some of his own compositions (flute sonata and oboe sonata) show the inspiration of Telemann.

Concerto for Two Flutes, Violone, Strings and Continuo (9-12) is also a debut recording for the piece, with a deep, velvety tone of the violone that creates an impressive contrariety to the agility of the flutes, notably when the flutes and the violone play together in parallel for long stretches.

Concerto for Flute, Oboe d'amore, Viola d'amore, Strings and Continuo in E (13-16). The Largo in D minor forms a sharp contrast to the vivacious movements to Part 1 of Music de Table. In the Siciliano, the repeated theme and expression is achieved by repetition of three concertante instruments without the continuo.

Listen for the only concertos with a combination of flute and two other different solo instruments in the final piece of the compilation, Concerto for Flute, Strings and Continuo in D (17-20).

Overall high marks for the agility, flow, and swiftness of all the performances in this compilation.

2004 (33) © MY

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