Georg Philipp Telemann: Fantasias for Viola da Gamba Robert Smith

• Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767): Fantasia No. 1 in C minor, TWV 40:26:
• 1Fantasia No. 1 in C minor, TWV 40:26: I. Adagio - Allegro - Adagio - Allegro03:27
• 2Fantasia No. 1 in C minor, TWV 40:26: II. Allegro02:16
• Fantasia No. 2 in D major, TWV 40:27:
• 3Fantasia No. 2 in D major, TWV 40:27: I. Vivace & Andante07:16
• 4Fantasia No. 2 in D major, TWV 40:27: II. Presto01:22
• Fantasia No. 3 in E minor, TWV 40:28:
• 5Fantasia No. 3 in E minor, TWV 40:28: I. Largo02:38
• 6Fantasia No. 3 in E minor, TWV 40:28: II. Presto01:45
• 7Fantasia No. 3 in E minor, TWV 40:28: III. Vivace01:21
• Fantasia No. 4 in F major, TWV 40:29:
• 8Fantasia No. 4 in F major, TWV 40:29: I. Vivace04:01
• 9Fantasia No. 4 in F major, TWV 40:29: II. Grave00:47
• 10Fantasia No. 4 in F major, TWV 40:29: III. Allegro01:36
• Fantasia No. 5 in B flat major, TWV 40:30:
• 11Fantasia No. 5 in B flat major, TWV 40:30: I. Allegro02:32
• 12Fantasia No. 5 in B flat major, TWV 40:30: II. Largo00:59
• 13Fantasia No. 5 in B flat major, TWV 40:30: III. Allegro01:27
• Fantasia No. 6 in G major, TWV 40:31:
• 14Fantasia No. 6 in G major, TWV 40:31: I. Scherzando02:06
• 15Fantasia No. 6 in G major, TWV 40:31: II. Dolce02:49
• 16Fantasia No. 6 in G major, TWV 40:31: III. Spirituoso01:13
• Fantasia No. 7 in G minor, TWV 40:32:
• 17Fantasia No. 7 in G minor, TWV 40:32: I. Andante04:36
• 18Fantasia No. 7 in G minor, TWV 40:32: II. Vivace01:25
• 19Fantasia No. 7 in G minor, TWV 40:32: III. Allegro01:43
• Fantasia No. 8 in A major, TWV 40:33:
• 20Fantasia No. 8 in A major, TWV 40:33: I. Allegro01:57
• 21Fantasia No. 8 in A major, TWV 40:33: II. Grave01:55
• 22Fantasia No. 8 in A major, TWV 40:33: III. Vivace01:46
• Fantasia No. 9 in C major, TWV 40:34:
• 23Fantasia No. 9 in C major, TWV 40:34: I. Presto02:10
• 24Fantasia No. 9 in C major, TWV 40:34: II. Grave03:07
• 25Fantasia No. 9 in C major, TWV 40:34: III. Allegro01:53
• Fantasia No. 10 in E major, TWV 40:35:
• 26Fantasia No. 10 in E major, TWV 40:35: I. Dolce - Allegro - Dolce - Allegro02:47
• 27Fantasia No. 10 in E major, TWV 40:35: II. Siciliana02:39
• 28Fantasia No. 10 in E major, TWV 40:35: III. Scherzando02:02
• Fantasia No. 11 in D minor, TWV 40:36:
• 29Fantasia No. 11 in D minor, TWV 40:36: I. Allegro02:05
• 30Fantasia No. 11 in D minor, TWV 40:36: II. Grave02:06
• 31Fantasia No. 11 in D minor, TWV 40:36: III. Allegro02:05
• Fantasia No. 12 in E flat major, TWV 40:37:
• 32Fantasia No. 12 in E flat major, TWV 40:37: I. Andante02:57
• 33Fantasia No. 12 in E flat major, TWV 40:37: II. Allegro02:09
• 34Fantasia No. 12 in E flat major, TWV 40:37: III. Vivace02:19
• Total Runtime01:19:16

Info for Georg Philipp Telemann: Fantasias for Viola da Gamba

Lost to the world for centuries, the recent rediscovery in 2015 of Georg Philipp Telemann’s twelve Fantasias for viola da gamba represents a major addition to the solo repertoire of the instrument.

In the year of the 250th anniversary of Telemann’s death, acclaimed Amsterdam-based gambist Robert Smith brings these long forgotten works back to life with this striking recording of the complete set of twelve fantasias in a vital addition to the Telemann discography - one of earliest recordings of these eagerly anticipated works.

'Whatever the [music's] mood, this is playing of exceptional quality. Robert Smith navigates each piece with clear-eyed musicality, always weaving a beautifully sonorous, coherent line through Telemann’s rich invention.' (The Observer)

'Under Smith’s experienced, marvellously sensitive hands, these works burst into life, and a dazzling array of invention and technique is unfolded before the listener. Smith’s particular talent is to allow the instrument to speak with total naturalness, keeping the music rhythmically buoyant and skilfully applying subtle rubato' (Europadisc)

Robert Smith, viola da gamba

Robert Smith
is an English viola da gambist and baroque cellist. In 2012 he won the Bach-Abel Viola da Gamba Competition in Köthen, taking the First Prize, Audience Prize and Special Prize. His performance of a heavy-metal transcription of a Metallica song was especially noted.

Robert’s ensemble, Fantasticus, has received wide critical acclaim for its recent recordings of stylus fantasticus and French Baroque music. In 2013 his playing was described by The Strad as, ‘Intensely expressive, highly dramatic.’

Robert studied Viola de Gamba with Mieneke van der Velden (Amsterdam) and Paolo Pandolfo (Basel). He also studied Baroque cello with Wouter Möller, Jaap ter Linden and Viola da Hoog. He was principal cellist with the European Union Baroque Orchestra in 2005/6.

Robert currently plays with the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Fantasticus, amongst many other groups. In 2010 he won the second prize in the International Baroque Soloist competition in Brunnenthal, Austria. In ensembles he received several prizes in the Bruges Musica Antiqua Competition and the Van Wassenaer Competition (Amsterdam).

Booklet for Georg Philipp Telemann: Fantasias for Viola da Gamba