Orpheus in Hamburg: Telemann’s Private World

A Concert of 18th-Century Music Performed on Historic Instruments

Followed by a Buffet of German Apple Strudel, Chocolate Confections & Coffee

Music of Telemann:

Sonata for Chalumeau, Oboe, Violin & Continuo
Fantasia in G-Minor For Viola da Gamba Solo
Cantatas from the Harmonischer Gottesdienst
Duet for Two Recorders in B-flat
Concerto in A-minor for Recorder, Oboe, Violin & Continuo

Mark Kramer, Viola da gamba with Special Guests:
Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek, Mezzo Soprano
Nina Stern, Chalumeau & Recorder
Geoffrey Burgess, Baroque Oboe & Recorder
Michael Sponseller, Harpsichord

Georg Philipp Telemann, as far as the public was concerned, was a renowned composer and musician. Admired by Handel and respected throughout all of Europe, he held many prestigious positions before settling in Hamburg in 1721. His private world was another story. An unfaithful wife and her gambling debts caused a great public scandal which devastated the composer emotionally and financially. With his life in shambles, he turned to writing poetry, cultivating exotic plants, raising a grandson and writing truly inspired music. From this challenging period in Telemann’s life are some of the composer’s most intimate, imaginative and effervescent musical compositions.