TELEMANN Zerschmettert die Götzen. Meine Rede bleibt betrübt. Dein Schaden ist verzweifelt böse • Shalev Ad-El, cond; Dorothee Mields (sop); Klaus Mertens (bs); Accademia Daniel • cpo 777 249 (71:49 Text and Translation)

These three cantatas are first recordings. The first and longest is a duet with trumpets and timpani for the consecration of a church. The other two belong in the category of liturgical cantatas (TVWV’s first section) and are only half as long, with only the soprano soloist in the second and a dialogue between Jesus and the Soul in the third. The first is a late work written for a church completed in 1751. The other two are early works from Frankfurt, before Telemann took up his final position in Hamburg in 1721. The celebratory work offers a contrast to the other two. The solo piece represents Magdalen looking for the body of the risen Christ on Easter, applying an allegorical interpretation of the Song of Songs to her longing. The dialogue between Jesus and the Soul focuses on sin, repentance, mercy, and faith.

All of these works support the singers with a small ensemble. The largest of the three works uses two trumpets, timpani, flute, oboe, two violins, and continuo. The solo work uses oboe, two violins, and continuo, while the final work employs oboe, unison violins, and continuo. While we have only heard a fraction of Telemann’s prodigious output of cantatas, these three suggest that he was able to infuse originality and inventiveness into an endless series of works superficially similar but each distinctive. Until the Works Lists (TVWV for vocal, TWV for the rest) were published a few years ago, we had a less than clear idea of his achievement. The current Bielefelder Katalog lists over 20 CDs containing primarily liturgical cantatas, some of them including a couple of other works for variety. Altogether, there are over 70 different cantatas with very few duplications, understandable given the number of cantatas in the first section of TVWV (over 1,700). Mertens and the present ensemble recently recorded premieres of three solo cantatas for the Hessian Radio label, and they have another one coming on the present label. Mertens is an outstanding artist in this repertoire, and Mields is a capable young singer. This is my first exposure to the Israeli conductor and his ensemble; he is a capable interpreter who guides his ensemble well. There is probably no stopping the continued output of these works, likely to strain the budgets of true believers. Add this disc to your collection, and watch for more.

FANFARE: J. F. Weber