Telemann wrote in just about every genre of music, over
thirty operas, numerous cantatas, oratorios, orchestral suites, concertos and
chamber music. In addition to this, Telemann also wrote a number of Passions.
By the time Telemann arrived in Hamburg in 1721 as Kantor of
the Johanneum Lateinschule and musical director of the city's five largest
churches, succeeding Joachim Gerstenbüttel (1647-1721), he had written a number
of oratorios. Hamburg already had a tradition of passion oratorios that had grown
from the tradition of having a musically set passion as part of the religious
services during Lent. During the early years of the enlightenment, Hamburg was
at the forefront of the secularisation of church music. There had been an opera in Hamburg since 1678
with the texts of operas based heavily on religious subjects.
Telemann wrote a number of Passion Oratorios intended for
use in religious services. However, another type of Passion developed in the
form of the Oratorio Passion, strongly influenced by the opera and was a
dramatized telling of particular moments of the Passion story. As Music
Director of Hamburg, he had performed his Passion Oratorios in secular venues as
public concerts with an admission fee; it only being later possible to perform
them during religious services. However, Telemann’s Lukas Passion of 1728 was performed
several times that year between the churches of Hamburg.
I have not come across many recordings of Telemann’s Lukas Passion so a new release from CPO is especially welcome. It is a live recording from the Magdeburger Telemann Festlage www.telemann.org/veranstaltungen/telemannfesttage.html on 17th March 2012 with the Kolner Akademie www.koelnerakademie.com directed by Michael Alexander Willens www.koelnerakademie.com/index.php?id=3&L=1 and soloists Wolfgang Klose (tenor) www.wolfgang-klose.com , Marcus Ullmann (tenor) www.marcus-ullmann.de , Christian Hilz (baritone) www.christianhilz.de , Raimonds Spogis (baritone), Thilo Dahlmann (bass) www.thilodahlmann.de and Aisha Tummler (soprano) www.operabase.com/listart.cgi?id=org&lang=en&name=Aisha%20%5BT%C3%BCmmler%5D
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| 777 754-2 2CD |
Using texts from the Gospel according to St Luke, as well as texts from the Old Testament, the St Luke Passion is divided into five sections or divisions. Each of these five divisions is made up of a Preparation, with suitable texts from the old testament, The Religious Application, with appropriate words by Matthaus Arnold Wilkens (1691–1745), and the Division, with texts from St Luke’s Gospel.
Vorbereitung zur
ersten Abteilung: (Preparations for the First Division)
Der verkaufte Joseph (Who
Sold Joseph) has a moderately paced Recitativo
with the Kolner Akademie showing some fine playing. Raimonds Spogis has a fine,
rich, characterful voice, ideal in this repertoire and brings a variety of
feeling to the text. A lovely vibrant aria Allgegenwärt’ger
ger Hort der Deinen follows with beautifully transparent, slightly French
sounding orchestral writing, especially in the performance.
In Die gläubige Anwendung (The
Religious Application), again the
Recitativo is never allowed to become bland, with tenor, Marcus Ullmann
giving the music much feeling. In the beautifully written Aria Laß, Erlöser, deine Treue meiner Treue Zunder sein, Ullmann
has a lovely tone though not showing the flexibility that he soon gains as the
performance proceeds.
In the Recitativo
that opens the Erste Abteilung (First
Division) tenor, Wolfgang Klose, sings as the Evangelist, a demanding role
in this work. He has a high tenor voice, most attractive in this dramatic Recitativo with Baritone, Christian
Hilz, later joining in the role of Jesus, with his rich voice. Of the various Recitativos
and Chorales there is an especially fine Recitativo
where Jesus, the Evangelist and Peter (Marcus Ullmann) are simply accompanied
by an organ with the Chorus of Disciples making interjections and the fine choir
of the Kolner Akademie sing a brief Choral,
Treib, Herr, von mir und verhüte.
Vorbereitung zur
zweiten Abteilung: (Preparation for the Second Division)
With Der von Zedekia geschlagene Micha (Micah Struck by Zedekiah) there is an orchestral
opening with some lovely instrumental sounds before a powerful Thilo Dahlmann
enters as Zedekiah in this distinctive Recitativo,
followed by Raimonds Spogis as Micah. The lovely instrumental sounds continue
with another great Aria Israel und Juda zeuge from Raimonds
Spogis.
Die gläubige Anwendung (The
Religious Application) opens with a light textured Recitativo from Marcus Ullmann with, again, fine instrumental
transparency. Sei stille, wallendes
Gemüte, with tenor Marcus Ullmann, is another lovely aria, a little more Bachian in its opening with some lovely
singing, flexible and refined.
Zweite Abteilung (Second
Division). After an opening text sung by the Evangelist, Wolfgang Klose, the
singing alternates with Peter (Marcus Ullmann), A Maid (Aisha Tummler – sop)
and A Soldier (Raimonds Spogis - bar) in a dialogue around Peter’s denial.
After the Evangelist sings of the Cock crowing, the chorus of soldiers sings
‘Prophesy, who is it that hit you?’ There is a Recitativo for Evangelist, Jesus and Chorus of Elders, Chief
Priests and Scribes and with some effective choral writing in ‘Then you are the
Son of God?’ and a final Recitativo
for the Evangelist, Jesus and chorus of Elders, Chief Priests and Scribes,
effectively done.
Vorbereitung zur
dritten Abteilung: (Preparation for the Third Division)
In Der von seinem Sohne und Volke verfolgte David (David Pursued by his Son and People) David
(Raimonds Spogis) sings a characterful Recitativo
Ah,
woe, how many there are that hate me and a terrific Aria Yes, yes, in vain my
enemies rage, lively, vibrant, wonderfully sung, full of feeling and
agility. There is more attractive instrumental writing.
Die gläubige Anwendung (The Religious Application) brings some
attractive singing from tenor, Marcus Ullmann, full of feeling in the Recitativo followed by a fine Arioso
with a lovely orchestral contribution.
The Dritte Abteilung (Third Division) brings the Evangelist in
a lovely bouncing, lively Recitativo on the words …took him before Pilate followed by a chorus of the Jews. In the Recitativo the Evangelist is joined by Pilate,
a strong and firm Thilo Dahlmann with a chorus of Chief Priests and Jesus in an
inspired little piece. There is a fast and furious chorale, a Chorus of the
People singing Away with this one…. Further
Recitativo is followed by a most
unusual chorus Crucify Him with
repeated phrases. A Chorale ends this
division, a mournful, beautiful setting of Oh,
you wondrous counsel.
The second disc of this set opens with the Vorbereitung zur vieren Abteilung: (Preparation
for the Fourth Division)
Der sterbende Simson (The
Dying Samson) has a joyful instrumental opening before the Chorus of
Philistines enter with Rejoice and shout
for joy… Raimonds Spogis as Samson enters in a measured You, God of grace, turn! There is a joyful Chorus of Philistines
before Samson returns with a measured You,
God of revenge, take revenge for me. In the following Recitativo. Raimonds Spogis shows that he has such a fine voice,
full of character and strength.
Die gläubige Anwendung (The Religious Application) Marcus
Ullmann opens this part with the Recitativo
before the triumphant Aria Triumph, triumph, the edifice of the enemies
crashes down.
The Recitativo of the Vierte Abteilung (Fourth Division) returns us to the
passion with the Evangelist singing…they
seized a man, Simon of Cyrene …and placed the cross on him… Here Wolfgang
Klose is flexible and firm with some fine instrumental writing. There is a
lovely slow Arioso from Jesus and the
Evangelist, with Christian Hilz providing a fine You daughters of Jerusalem and a superb Recitativo Father! Forgive them, for they know not what
they do. There is a particularly fine Recitativo
with the Evangelist, Jesus and Evildoers in a dialogue that combines Wolfgang
Klose, Christian Hilz, Raimonds Spogis and Thilo Dahlmann in this sensitive
setting. The short but affecting Arioso
has a beautifully controlled contribution from Wolfgang Klose. A sombre Chorale
beautifully sung and Recitativo from
the Evangelist and Centurion close this division.
Vorbereitung zur
fünften Abteilung: (Preparation for the Fifth Division)
Der versenkte Jonas (The
Sunken Jonah) brings a vibrant instrumental opening before Marcus Ullmann
enters as Jonah in this almost Vivaldian Recitativo.
The Recitativo of Die gläubige Anwendung (The
Religious Application) brings baritone Raimonds Spogis in rich, fine
sounds, full of power as he is also in the Aria
Thus the tempest is opposed.
The Funfte Abteilung (Fifth Division) commences
with a Recitativo from the Evangelist
before another lovely Choral God thus takes care… After a further Recitativo from the Evangelist we arrive
at the Concluding Aria So rest, crucified love, from all
persecution and pain, something of a highlight
with lovely instrumentation and blending of voices in this mellow aria. A
relatively brief but fine chorale At last
he has been delivered ends this fine Passion.
This is an extremely attractive work with many wonderful
moments. The excellent recording is live, though you wouldn’t know it. No
applause is included. There are excellent notes and full texts and translations.
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