Telemann Fantasias: 12 Fantasias For Solo Violin
Navona, 2021
8/10
Listen to Telemann Fantasias: 12 Fantasias For Solo Violin
The violin enthusiast Thomas Bowes proves that there’s a lot more to the Baroque period than Johann Sebastian Bach, as he interprets all of Georg Philipp Telemann’s solo violin fantasias on this daring effort.
“Fantasia no. 1 in B flat major” starts the listen with 4 chapters that illustrate sublime and very focused string manipulation that brings much timelessness and grace to the opener, and “Fantasia no. 2 in G major” follows with the dreamy, playful violin emitting much beauty.
Further on, “Fantasia no. 5 in A major” has the strings dancing in and out of very exciting gestures, while “Fantasia no. 7 in E flat major” emits a very reflective tone where the attention to detail is nothing short of stunning.
Moving towards the end, “Fantasia no. 10 in D major” handles tone with incredible agility and no lack of melody, and “Fantasia no. 12 in A minor” exits the listen with both tension and warmth as Bowes showcases a wealth of talent.
An extremely well done listen, Bowes retains the upbeat and energetic nature of the compositions, and his meticulous execution makes every second here worth spending plenty of quality time with.
Travels well with: Joshua Ranz- J.S. Bach: Three Cello Suites; Stanley Grill- Remember