| Label: RONDEAU Catalog: ROP6038 Format: CD Siri Karoline Thornhill, soprano; Susanne Krumbiegel, alto; Albrecht Sack, tenor; Bach Consort Leipzig; Gotthold Schwarz, bass & directionGeorg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767) Der Tod Jesu TWV 5:6 (1755) (Passion Oratorio) Gotthold Schwarz and his ensemble recorded Telemann's oratorio "Tod Jesu" (1755) at an historical venue: the Schloßkapelle at Torgau is the first Protestant church in Germany. It was consecrated in 1544 by Martin Luther himself. Though originally composed for the concert hall, the Hamburg 'Drillhaus', this work remains nonetheless sacred music of preaching and worship. Taking this into account, the Bach Consort Leipzig brings back the music to its intended venue. In the work's entire design, Telemann follows prominent Baroque exemplars, such as Bach's Passions: recitatives alternate with arias, chorales and choruses. Nonetheless, the composition leaves its very own trace. For example, Telemann enlarges enormously the musical accompaniment of the recitatives. Until then, they had been set to a sparse thorough bass; here, a three voice accompaniment consisting of two violin parts and a viola is added to this. The Bach Consort Leipzig performs the music with greatly reduced numbers - small orchestra, one singer per choir part, who also sings the solo parts - and thus come very close to the historical context for such a performance in Telemann's time. Gotthold Schwarz decided for this ensemble not only for purely historicist reasons. This kind of music making, for him, brings with it a further, decisive effect: "Thereby we achieve a maximum of transparency in the voice-leading and therefore are able to present even more lucidly, contrastingly and poignantly the Baroque affects in his music." |