Robert Smith – Telemann: Fantasias for Viola da Gamba (2017) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

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)

Tracklist:
01. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 1 in C Minor, TWV 40:26: I. Adagio – Allegro – Adagio – Allegro (03:27)
02. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 1 in C Minor, TWV 40:26: II. Allegro (02:16)
03. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 2 in D Major, TWV 40:27: I. Vivace & Andante (07:15)
04. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 2 in D Major, TWV 40:27: II. Presto (01:22)
05. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 3 in E Minor, TWV 40:28: I. Largo (02:38)
06. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 3 in E Minor, TWV 40:28: II. Presto (01:44)
07. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 3 in E Minor, TWV 40:28: III. Vivace (01:20)
08. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 4 in F Major, TWV 40:29: I. Vivace (04:01)
09. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 4 in F Major, TWV 40:29: II.Grave (00:46)
10. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 4 in F Major, TWV 40:29: III. Allegro (01:35)
11. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 5 in B Flat Major, TWV 40:30: I. Allegro (02:31)
12. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 5 in B Flat Major, TWV 40:30: II. Largo (00:58)
13. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 5 in B Flat Major, TWV 40:30: III. Allegro (01:27)
14. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 6 in G Major, TWV 40:31: I. Scherzando (02:06)
15. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 6 in G Major, TWV 40:31: II. Dolce (02:48)
16. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 6 in G Major, TWV 40:31: III. Spirituoso (01:12)
17. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 7 in G Minor, TWV 40:32: I. Andante (04:35)
18. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 7 in G Minor, TWV 40:32: II. Vivace (01:24)
19. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 7 in G Minor, TWV 40:32: III. Allegro (01:43)
20. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 8 in A Major, TWV 40:33: I. Allegro (01:56)
21. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 8 in A Major, TWV 40:33: II. Grave (01:54)
22. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 8 in A Major, TWV 40:33: III. Vivace (01:45)
23. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 9 in C Major, TWV 40:34: I. Presto (02:10)
24. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 9 in C Major, TWV 40:34: II. Grave (03:06)
25. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 9 in C Major, TWV 40:34: III. Allegro (01:52)
26. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 10 in E Major, TWV 40:35: I. Dolce – Allegro – Dolce – Allegro (02:47)
27. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 10 in E Major, TWV 40:35: II. Siciliana (02:38)
28. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 10 in E Major, TWV 40:35: III. Scherzando (02:01)
29. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 11 in D Minor, TWV 40:36: I. Allegro (02:05)
30. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 11 in D Minor, TWV 40:36: II. Grave (02:05)
31. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 11 in D Minor, TWV 40:36: III. Allegro (02:04)
32. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 12 in E Flat Major, TWV 40:37: I. Andante (02:56)
33. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 12 in E Flat Major, TWV 40:37: II. Allegro (02:09)
34. Robert Smith – Fantasia No. 12 in E Flat Major, TWV 40:37: III. Vivace (02:18)