GEORG PHILIPP TELEMANN (1681-1767): Oratorio "Herr Gott, dich loben wir", TWV 11:15a/b, Serenata "O erhabnes Glück der Ehe", TWV 11:15c.

Description: A sacred oratorio (38 min.) and a secular Serenata (65 min.) commissioned for the golden wedding anniversary of a member of Hamburg's city senate - one of four such commissions Telemann received but the only one surviving. Dating from 1732, the oratorio (for church performance where the couple received a blessing) is more austere, with texts and a chorale by Luther while the Serenata is much more unbuttoned and shows the opera composer side of Telemann in its richly nuanced tonal coloration. 2 CDs. German-English texts. Hannah Morrison (soprano), Margot Oitzinger (alto), Markus Schäfer, Immo Schröder (tenors), Matthias Vieweg, Christos Pelekanos (basses), Das Kleine Konzert;  Hermann Max.