Telemann is said to have transformed traditional trio sonatas as composed and performed in Germany from esoteric music for virtuoso players into a considerably more popular form. I am not sure what "popular" means, but what we have here is music of the highest order, performed by a group of accomplished musicians. Admittedly, the sound of period instruments is not always to everyone's taste (including, at times, mine), but here they work well with the material and the result is on the musical mark.

Within the first few seconds of the first track–the Sonata No. 1 in G major–most listeners will find themselves in surprisingly familiar territory–surprising because this little-known 18th-century composer seems to have written a popular tune long attributed to Pergolesi, a misattribution given additional false credibility by its use in Stravinsky's Pulcinella. In fact Stravinsky used selections from several of Domenico Gallo's trio sonatas in his famous ballet music, thinking them to be works of Pergolesi because they were published under his name in late-19th century English editions.

The Munich Radio Orchestra (German: Münchener Rundfunkorchester) is associated with Germany's Bavarian Radio public broadcaster, but should not be confused with the network's other orchestra, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks), which is devoted to mainstream symphonic repertory.

On the path to true faith and its practice to please God, there have been regular heated debates over the role of music. Reactionaries repeatedly closed the lid on excessive cheer. This was also the case in the Netherlands of the 17th century. The reformist spirit of the Frenchman John Calvin led to an almost complete ban of music during worship services, despite the fact that the psalms of David ("Sing unto the Lord") provide unassailable proof to the contrary. Shortly before 1600, the great Dutch composer Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck discovered how these psalms could be, and were permitted to be, set to new music. The "Orpheus of Amsterdam" succeeded in transforming imposed restrictions into acoustic wonders. Our small selection of psalms, alternating with several organ works, proves once again the victory of the spirit over heavy subject matter.

On 5 September 1723, Emperor Charles VI, the father of his legendary successor Maria Theresia, was crowned King of Bohemia in St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague. After this magnificent ceremony had already gone on for several hours, the Golden City held a series of festivities that one can hardly imagine today. Among other things, a new work by the Vienna court composer Francesco Conti was performed. The serenata Il Trionfo della Fama, in which the goddess of fame (and rumour) celebrates the ruler of the world together with all parts of the earth known at the time. His Majesty was surely greatly pleased by the one-act opera. With timpani and trumpets, sprinkled with glorious arias for the allegorical figures representing the emperor’s character traits, the "Triumph of the Goddess of Fame" has not lost anything of its entertaining impact even three hundred years after its premiere.

A bundled release will have some risks and side effects compared to successive releases of a series of works. Here one can proceed cautiously from album to album, preparing oneself for what is to come and comparing the new material with alternative recordings. In contrast, the ‘complete package’ demands exclusive listening, which may result in astonishing discoveries and entirely new insights – as Lena Neudauer and Paul Rivinius demonstrate here with their Beethoven violin sonatas. How much Schubert and Schumann are not hidden in these works? Where does the "Rage over a lost penny" come into play? Is swing really a child of the 20th century? Why does a precise, light accent balance out every rough one? After more than four hours of music, the duo has painted a conclusive portrait. Those who wish may make comparisons…

Antonia Bembo's opera L'Ercole amante waited nearly 340 years for its premiere. This delay may have been due to the subject matter, as her teacher, Antonio Cavalli, had already composed a festival opera based on the same tragedy for the wedding of Louis XIV and Maria Theresa of Spain in 1660. Although the Sun King, reportedly an admirer of her compositions, had taken the Venetian singer under his wings following her separation from her husband and relocation to France, he was already by then quite familiar with the tragic tale of Hercules. And so, he allowed the enchanting and emotionally stirring music, rich with arias, to pass him by. Finally, on May 26, 2023, Jorg Halubek and Il Gusto Barocco brought this long-overlooked masterpiece to its well-deserved breakthrough at Stuttgart's Liederhalle.

Telemann remains a paradox: The deeper one delves into his oeuvre, the more boundless his legacy seems - like entering a mysterious treasure trove where the eyes gradually adjust to the wealth amassed within, yet never fully grasp its true extent. The sheer abundance of his orchestral works and concertos seems to grow exponentially with each new publication. When previously lost compositions unexpectedly resurface - such as these six overtures from 1736, of which only a single printed copy had survived - we are left speechless. Suddenly, an exquisite assortment unfolds before us, featuring "classical" Baroque dance forms interspersed with exotic elements such as the Polonaise and Murky, imaginative character sketches, and various fashionable pieces, all presented in a kaleidoscope of colors. How effortlessly time flies by!

"Here it is, my poor little Mass. Have I truly composed sacred music, or merely something sacrilegious?" With these words, the 72-year-old Gioachino Rossini addressed the "dear Lord", to whom he wished to dedicate his most extensive and, at the same time, one of his most significant and original late works - a sacred composition of nearly full-length dimensions akin to a grand cathedral Mass. However, the instrumentation consists only of instruments commonly found in any well-appointed 19th-century household. A piano and a harmonium accompany the soloists and choir, enriching the performance with lively rhythms, intricate figures, and distinctive sonic textures. The treatment of the liturgical text is not entirely orthodox: "I was born for opera buffa. You know that well!" Rossini confessed to the Lord more than thirty years after composing his last opera. And he expressed his gratitude for this special gift with "a touch of skill and a touch of heart" - enough to captivate both earthly and heavenly audiences alike.

The fourth volume of this diverse and instructive series presents itself as a "group portrait with a lady". In this installment, Douglas Bostock and the Southwest German Chamber Orchestra Pforzheim continue their exploration of British string music history. Representing the "fairer sex" among her colleagues is Imogen Holst, daughter of the renowned composer of The Planets. Of all the composers featured, she employs the most advanced musical language. Nevertheless, they are all united by a shared artistic ethos: they creatively follow in the footsteps of the old masters, devising various ways to bridge the spirit of past centuries with their own time. This may take shape as variations or as a musical monument, but more often than not, it unfolds "en suite" - with refined taste and that distinctly British sense of conservatism.

After Stralsund and Danzig, Magdeburg is the third stop on Manfred Cordes' journey through the cities of the Hanseatic League. This stop not only takes him to a city quite far from the sea but also to the earliest period of Protestant church music. Magdeburg introduced the Reformation already in 1524, just seven years after Luther's decisive act. Immediately, the transformation began of what the former monk from Eisleben cherished as a "gift and blessing from God" and saw as an effective means of preaching the Gospel. A genuine "Magdeburg School" emerged, with its representatives cultivating and developing the music of the new faith up until the Thirty Years' War. This program follows that tradition, bringing to life the works of cantors from Martin Agricola to Heinrich Grimm, thus allowing compositions spanning approximately 120 years to resound once more.

Today, his work "has no significant presence in recordings or concert life," states the boundless internet for those seeking information on the life and work of composer, pianist, and priest Johann Franz Xaver Sterkel (1750–1817). This perception, however, will have to change in the foreseeable future, for what has recently resurfaced from the legacy of this versatile Würzburg-born musician awakens a curiosity that deepens with each encounter and is rewarded with ever-surprising creations. Now, alongside the three highly acclaimed chamber works released by cpo in November (555 499-2), two of his once widely performed symphonies join the spotlight, as well as one of the six piano concertos he composed – pieces that served both to showcase his classically refined, virtuosic eloquence and to bring universal delight in his presence.

Remembered today almost exclusively for the character piece for piano, Rustle of Spring, Norwegian composer Christian Sinding is one of music's unjustly neglected figures, and his rewarding music deserves a comprehensive revival. Thanks to the German label CPO, Sinding's three violin concertos have been handsomely recorded by violinist Andrej Bielow and the NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover, conducted by Frank Beermann, along with a handful of shorter pieces to fill out this double-disc package. Sinding's Romantic style is quite approachable and is reminiscent by turns of Brahms and Tchaikovsky, as well as of his compatriot, Grieg, so audiences will immediately embrace these charming works for their abundant melodies and elegant writing for the violin. Bielow's playing is intensely lyrical and penetrating, with a tone that is sometimes almost reedy in coloration, which distinguishes his lines against the accompaniment. The orchestra is warm, vibrant, and smooth, providing an ideal contrast to set the violin in high relief. CPO's recording is clear and detailed, with a front and center placement of the soloist. But because the frequency range is extremely wide and best suited to high-end audio systems, listeners with conventional CD players may have to adjust the volume level to find a comfortable setting.

On August 15, 1684, the Sun King’s war against Emperor Leopold I and King Charles II of Spain reached a temporary end. Louis XIV had secured the advantage, and so several influential gentlemen sought to delight His Majesty with extravagant tributes. One of them was the Marquis de Seignelay, who spent the staggering sum of 100,000 livres on illuminations, lavish banquets, and a concert at his Château de Sceaux on a summer evening. In doing so, he sparked a sensation that echoed for years: the Idylle sur la Paix (Idyll on Peace), featuring music by the court composer Lully and poetry by the court poet Racine. The Duke of Richelieu (the great-nephew of the legendary Cardinal) could only remain in second place. He, too, had planned a grand fête at his estate, with music by Marc-Antoine Charpentier and the unveiling of an equestrian statue of the king. But the devil lurked in the details, and the Fête never came to pass. Now, 340 years later, the Boston Early Music Festival brings this long-lost vision to life.

Julius Otto Grimm was born in the Estonian port city of Pärnu, studied at the Leipzig Conservatory, and, after several stops, arrived in Münster, where he played such an outstanding role until his death in 1903 that the city’s symphony orchestra could not deny him the recognition he deserved in anticipation of his 200th birthday (2027). This recording showcases two of the most significant works from Grimm’s concise catalog: the youthful, passionate Symphony composed in Leipzig in 1852, paired with the second Canonical Suite from 1870, which the composer dedicated to his lifelong friend Johannes Brahms. This miniature masterpiece forms a bridge back to Johann Sebastian Bach, who undoubtedly inspired the refined contrapuntal artistry without ever relegating the self-avowed Romantic Grimm to the background.