OUT NOW | Violist Antoine Tamestit’s New Album: "Georg Philipp Telemann — Viola Concertos"

Titled “Georg Philipp Telemann — Viola Concertos: overtures and fantasias,” this album is Antoine Tamestit's first concerto recording. 

The disc features Telemann’s "Ouverture Burlesque" in B-flat major; Canonic Sonata for two violas in D minor; the C and E-flat major Fantasias for solo viola; G minor Ouverture-Suite; and his G major Concerto for two violas. 

Also included on the album is Telemann’s famous Viola Concerto in G major. Composed between 1716 and 1721, this work is the only known Baroque viola concerto and considered to be the first for the instrument.

“The very first Concerto ever written for the Viola is also the first one we learn as youngsters or beginners,” explained Tamestit on his Facebook page. “It is a wonderful way to start a musical life, but it is also a fresh, joyful, easy and natural piece, virtuosic, sparkling, and full of original ideas.”

Collaborating on the program with Germany’s Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin (AKAMUS), Tamestit found that these selected works best showcased the composer.

“[There is something] for everyone from 5 to 155 years old!” Tamestit added. “Get to know the unique musician and master composer that is Telemann.” 

To listen to and purchase the album, click here.

Antoine Tamestit is a founding member of Trio Zimmermann and winner of the 2001 Primrose International Viola Competition. He currently plays on a 1672 Stradivarius viola — generously loaned by the Habisreutinger Foundation.

Founded in Berlin in 1982, AKAMUS is a world-leading chamber orchestra that performs historically informed music. For over three decades, they had their own concert series at the Konzerthaus Berlin and have also collaborated with Staatsoper Berlin since 1994.