Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin / »Tag des Gerichts«

Telemann wrote his setting of Psalm 71, »Deus judicium tuum« (Lord, I trust in Thee) for a Parisian audience, choosing a format whose use was confined to French church music: the grand motet. As the composer himself reported, not without pride, the piece was performed in 1738 »in the Concert spirituel by nearly one hundred select persons, twice in the space of three days«.

Telemann’s sung poem »Tag des Gerichts«, on the other hand, was written in 1760 with the Hamburg public in mind. In the oratorio, Reason, Disbelief, a Mocker and Devotion argue about the last things in life: »Judgement? I laugh at the dangers that have frightened the superstitious for millions of years!« sings the freethinking Disbelief. But it goes without saying that at the end, religious faith carries the day.