Die Tageszeiten
Telemann and Rameau
Historians do not know whether Telemann and Rameau ever actually met, but one thing is beyond doubt: both composers were leading masters of the late Baroque, each adding an unrivalled flair to their own style. In this concert, a nocte temporis brings Telemann’s German clarity into dialogue with Rameau’s French refinement.
Telemann’s Die Tageszeiten is the common thread. In four short cantatas, he represents an entire day in music, each section featuring a solo voice, a defining instrument and a concluding four-part chorus. Der Morgen (morning) exudes fresh energy with soprano and trumpet, making the first rays of sunshine almost tangible. In Der Mittag (noon), the mezzo-soprano is accompanied by a warm viola da gamba, perfect for the languid, golden midday light. Der Abend (evening) creates a sense of tranquillity with a tenor surrounded by two soft traversos. Die Nacht (night) concludes with deep bass notes, carried by the dark tones of two oboes and a bassoon – an evocation of silence, shadow and mystery.
In between these segments, a nocte temporis performs scenes from Jean-Philippe Rameau’s operas. He too paints the morning, noon, evening and night, but with the theatrical grandeur of the French court.
The result is a vibrant musical dialogue about light, time and the human imagination – a 24-hour journey through the Baroque era in which Telemann and Rameau complement each other with surprising naturalness.
Programma
- Georg-Philipp Telemann, Die Tageszeiten
- Jean-Philippe Rameau, opera excerpts
Bio
Tenor Reinoud Van Mechelen founded a nocte temporis in 2016. The ensemble began as a chamber music group and has since developed into a baroque orchestra. A nocte temporis received positive reviews for their CDs featuring music by, among others, Johann Sebastian Bach and Marc-Antoine Charpentier. Their album featuring music by Louis-Nicolas Clérambault has won several awards, including CHOC de Classica, Diapason d’or, Diamant d’Opéra and Le Choix de France Musique.
Press
“Van Mechelen’s emotional intelligence and vocal control are impressive.[…] The instrumental playing here, as elsewhere, is expertly executed and perfectly balances the voice.” (Gramophone)
More info
artistic direction Reinoud Van Mechelen met Gwendoline Blondeel (soprano), Sterre Decru (mezzo-soprano), Reinoud Van Mechelen (tenor), Damien Pass (bass) and a nocte temporis (20 musicians – 6 violins / 2 violas / 3 cellos / 2 flutes / 2 oboes / 2 bassoons / 1 trumpet / 1 double bass / 1 harpsichord) lighting design ntb
Ticket prices
€ 30 (section 1) – € 27 (section 2)
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