Violinist Cotik brings out the best in Telemann's 12 Fantasies

Earlier this year Tomás Cotik released a CD of 12 Fantasies for Solo Violin by Georg Philipp Telemann on the Centaur label. The album captures brilliant performances by Cotik of Telemann’s work, which was published in 1735 but mostly ignored for the next 200 years. With this CD, Cotik makes a strong case for resurrecting the continued interest in these forgotten gems.

Most of the 12 Fantasies are four to five minutes in length – with a few extending up to eight minutes. Each one offers an enticing dalliance between slow and fast sections and were written in a style that is somewhat similar to Arcangelo Corelli.

All twelve are impeccably played by Cotik, who mines each one for color and pace that sounds inventive and spontaneous. This is due, in part to his use of a Baroque bow and synthetic strings, allowing a greater freedom of expression. Some phrases are darker, others brighter. Some have more resonance and linger a bit while others are light as a feather.

Cotik, an Associate Professor of Violin at Portland State University, has performed in seventeen CD recordings for Naxos and Centaur Records. This recording of Telemann would make an excellent addition to those who are want to listen to superb solo violin.