Originally from Magdeburg, Telemann studied law at the University of Leipzig, where he founded the Collegium Musicum, which included the well-known violin virtuoso Johann Geor Pisendel, a pupil of Torelli. Later, moving to Hamburg, he served as cantor at the Johanneum and director of music at the city’s five principal churches. Over the course of his career, he wrote a vast series of works in a style that ranges from the late Baroque to the genre that dominated in Haydn’s time.
The concerto in G, presumably composed between 1716 and 1721, fits into the context of the Italian style. Telemann remains tied to the Corellian quadripartite model, while demonstrating exceptional mastery in the creation of brilliant orchestral and solo sections. The work represents one of the first examples of a concerto for viola and orchestra where the solo instrument faces a difficult cadenza.
Following are some Divertimenti e Scherzi, consumer music, but always of the highest quality.
With the Violin Concerto dedicated to his friend Pisendel, acclaimed as the most eminent German violinist of his time, Telemann wanted to pay homage to a musician with whom he had collaborated and with whom he remained in contact throughout his life, recognizing his central role in the history of Baroque music.
The Concerto for Flute, Violin and Cello follows the form of the church sonata in four movements, characterized by the alternation of slow and fast tempos. Written around 1750, this composition uses suggestive subtitles for the various movements in different keys. There is a clear reference to the commedia dell’arte, especially for the spirit of each individual movement, but Telemann always remains himself. Although evoking a French atmosphere right from the title, he uses passages that recall Vivaldi, but without ever losing his own identity, enriching the themes with surprising combinations of timbres and colors that make each piece a true musical gem.
Program
Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)
- Viola Concerto in G major
I. Largo
II. Allegro
III. Andante
IV. Presto
- Divertimento and Scherzi
Allegro assai
Scherzo 1 Vivace (German Minuet Tempo)
Scherzo 2 (French Minuet Tempo)
Scherzo 3 Veloce
Scherzo 4 Alternativement
Scherzo 5 Con jubilo
Scherzo 6 Arlechinoso (Playful)
- Violin Concerto in B flat major dedicated to Pisendel
I. Largo
II. Vivace
III. Sempre piano
IV. Allegro - Concerto for flute, violin and cello
I. Largo
II. Allegro
III. Gracioso
IV. Allegro - Overture-Suite “la Changeante”
I. Overture
II. Loure
III. Les Scaramouches. Vitement
IV. Menuet I / Menuet II
V. La Plaisanterie
VI. Hornpipe
VII. Avec douceur
VIII. Canaries
Europe Galante Orchestra
Fabio Biondi, violin, soloist and conductor
Violins I
Fabio Ravasi
Barbara Altobello
Rossella Borsoni
Violins II
Andrea Rognoni
Silvia Falavigna
Stefano Raccagni
Violas
Stefano Marcocchi
Armando Barilli
Cellos
Alessandro Andriani
Perikli Pite
Double Bass
Riccardo Coelati Rama
Theorbo
Giangiacomo Pinardi
Harpsichord
Paola Poncet
Flute
Marcello Gatti
Europa Galante
was born in 1989 from the desire of its artistic director, Fabio Biondi, to found an Italian instrumental group for the interpretations on period instruments of the great baroque and classical repertoire. The discovery of ancient music was then the exclusive prerogative of musicians from Northern Europe and the need for an Italian re-reading of this repertoire was the basis for the creation of Europa Galante.