First rate - This is a delectable set. I had no problem listening to all three CDs in a row, they were so stimulating. With a selection of works as broad as this, you can get a real feeling for why Telemann was the most popular composer in Germany during his lifetime. The music is consistently engaging and attractive, even though it does not plumb any emotional depths. Maybe one or two of the concertos do not reach the high level of most of this collection, but all of them are appealing. As for the performances, they are the best of what modern instruments can offer in this repertoire. Two recorders appear in the first concerto of the third disc, but otherwise all the instruments are contemporary. Patrick Peire leads performances that bristle with style and excitement. The most popular of the works, the Don Quixote Suite, receives a performance comparable to Neville Marriner s old recording. The sound engineering throughout is of demonstration caliber, combining the best tonal qualities of old analog with a digital dynamic range. Considering the price, anyone interested in Telemann probably should give this set a try.