Georg Philipp Telemann Sings of Love
By Ralph Graves
This release is all about love. Rest assured, these three secular cantatas are but a fraction of those Telemann wrote. The program is well-planned.
The three cantatas come from three different sources. They were written for different occasions and presented different views of love. Julia Kirchner and Georg Poplutz each perform a solo cantata, and they sing one together.
And both singers are in fine form. These cantatas all celebrate love in some fashion. Poplutz and Kirchner sing with feeling, conveying the emotions of the text. They also perform with a subtle lightness. This is buoyant, exciting love Telemann’s writing about. Poplutz and Kirchner effectively convey that intent.
Liebe, was ist schöner (Love, what is more beautiful) TWV 11:26 is a wedding cantata. The soprano and tenor sing about the depth of their love for each other. It reminded me of a Nelson Eddy/Jeanette MacDonald duet — in spirit but certainly not in style!
Lieben will ich TWV 20:21 is one of Telemann’s “Six Moral Cantatas” published in 1731. This tenor cantata focuses on a higher, more idealized form of love. To me, the style resembled Telemann’s sacred cantatas. The arias seem more measured, and a little reserved.
Kirchner is delightful in Du angenehmer Weiberorden (You pleasant sort of women) TWV 20:49. The cantata has a jaunty feel to it. At times Kirchner seems to sing with a smile.
All in all, a fine addition to Telemann’s recorded cantatas.
Georg Philipp Telemann: Liebe, was schöner als die Liebe
Serenata
Julia Kirchner, soprano; Georg Poplutz, tenor
La Stagione Frankfurt; Michael Schneider, conductor
CPO 555300-2
Serenata
Julia Kirchner, soprano; Georg Poplutz, tenor
La Stagione Frankfurt; Michael Schneider, conductor
CPO 555300-2
