“… Tempesta di Mare consists of the Philadelphia Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Players directed by Gwyn Roberts and Richard Stone, and the concertmaster Emlyn Ngai. They play with considerable style and flair, bringing out the energy, poise and colour of Telemann’s opulent scoring in the Concerto-suites. They are equally impressive in the leaner textures of the Concerto di camera. This is a fascinating and enjoyable CD exploring yet another form in which Telemann created music of considerable originality.”

“…This is smartly entertaining music, and Tempesta di Mare make the most of it. Highly recommended!”

“... The writing is all these works revels in virtuosic effects, showing off the various instruments to brilliant effect … Their playing is full of boldness and sass … certainly ear-catching. The sound is very vivid…”

“… [Ngai] sails through the solo passages with elan and adds a beautiful cadenza at the end of the opening Presto. As the work proceeds through its suite movements, everyone gets in on the act — flutes, horns, oboes — and they all revel in the folk rhythms and the sinuous, chromatic touches here and there… Enjoy this recording as soon as you can.

Artistic Judgement: Excellent/Exceptional         Sound/Technical Judgement: Exceptional 5/5

“… it’s all top-drawer stuff. Not least thanks to the beautifully blended sound of the whole: crisp strings, mellow woodwind, subtle-but-there harpsichord and theorbo and a gorgeous soft-focus halo of horns. In short, every instrumental timbre is beautifully looked after. As is every personality-rich note of Telemann’s”

“Telemann’s three Concert Suites, using a mixture of concerto and suite style are for the first time reunited on a disc. Tempesta di Mare from Philadelphia is truly committed in performing the music very lively and with appealing solos.” *****

“…These are, then, enthusiastic and persuasive accounts of music which makes no pretensions to profundity but wears its artful craftsmanship with joyous levity.”    ****

“… a fine work [TWV 54:F1], truly welcome … lively and polished performance… TWV 51:51F4 was definitely conceived with virtuoso violinist Pisendel in mind, and the seasoned orchestra behind him… Again Tempesta di Mare capture the ebullient drive and wonderful contours of this grandiose piece …”