This generous album of selections from
Georg Philipp Telemann's Tafelmusik (Musique de table) is intended to be an affordable sampler of Brilliant Classics' complete set on four regular CDs, but it may serve equally well as a beginner's introduction to this prolific Baroque composer. The three "productions" or collections of music
Telemann published in 1733 are representative of his handling of French, Italian, and German styles in a variety of instrumental combinations and genres, from sonatas for chamber ensembles to full-scale concertos with multiple soloists. Insofar as it presents entire pieces and is not an album of excerpts, this album is about as good as the listener can hope for, outside of receiving the box set as a gift. The quality of
Musica Amphion's performances is first-rate, with crisp attacks and clean lines, and this period ensemble includes a number of accomplished artists who play original instruments or modern copies.
Pieter-Jan Belder leads from the harpsichord, and his feeling for the nuances in Baroque practice makes these performances delightfully expressive and supple. Brilliant Classics has provided focused sound that highlights the solo parts without seeming artificially boosted and captures a naturally resonant ambience around the musicians.