Concerti Grossi/Water Music/Music for Royal

Read About This Recording

In 2009, we mark the 250th year since Handel's death in 1759. Handel was the consummate, 18th-century traveler, artiste and entrepreneur. He was an independent and strong-willed individual and, although he was approached several times by royal patrons to become their court composer, Handel was hesitant to professionally "settle down" until he was offered a position commensurate with the status he felt he deserved. Finally establishing himself in London, Handel created some of his most popular and endearing compositions.

As part of the Handel Year, Warner Classics has issued the 60-CD, 10 volume comprehensive Handel Edition. It is a complete survey of Handel's greatest works — including oratorios, operas, cantatas, keyboard concertos and suites and, in one splendid package, his works for orchestra. This volume contains, on six discs, the Concerti Grossi, both Op. 3 & 6, joined by the "Water Music" and "Music for the Royal Fireworks" as well as two oboe concertos, the organ concerto, a sonata for five violins and the concerto in "Alexander's Feast."

The performances are world-class with great Handel and baroque experts including Marc Minkowski leading Les Musiciens du Louvre, John Eliot Gardiner and the English Baroque Soloists, Jean-François Paillard Chamber Orchestra, Nikolaus Harnoncourt and the Concentus Musicus Wien. Gramophone noted of the 12 Concerti grossi, Op. 6 that "listening now to these searching, unceasingly imaginative performances of Handel's finest instrumental music, I can't help feeling that Harnoncourt was (as he has been so often) simply ahead of his time."

The ninth volume in the Handel Edition series features immaculately prepared, finely balanced and lyrical performances. With consummate musicianship that consistently sparkles and superb continuo contributions, this extremely attractive release is sure to find a wide audience; it's a great bargain and should not be missed.

—Terrence London

Quotes

"There are gems aplenty to be found in these Warner sets; all handsomely produced — excellent!" —BBC Magazine

Contents

Imported from Europe!

CD 1 (TT: 56:10): 6 Concerti Grossi, Op. 3, HWV312-317: No. 4 in F Major, HWV315; No. 6 in D Major, HWV317; No. 5 in D Minor, HWV316; No. 1 in B-flat Major, HWV512; No. 3 in G Major, HWV314; No. 2 in B-flat Major, HWV313.

Christian Moreaux, Jean-Philippe Thiébaut, Oboes; Marion Middenway, Claire Giardelli, Cellos; Aline Zylberajch, Organ; Alice Pierot, Nicolas Mazzoleni, Violins; Sébastian Marq, Recorder; Serge Saïtta, Flute; Les Musiciens du Louvre; Marc Minkowski, Conductor.

CD 2 (TT: 49:15): 12 Concerti Grossi, Op. 6, HWV319-330: No. 1 in G Major, HWV319; No. 2 in F Major, HWV320; No. 3 in E Minor, HWV321; No. 4 in A Minor, HWV322.

Alice Harnoncourt, Eric Höbarth, Violins; Wolfgang Aichinger, Chrisophe Coin, Rudolf Leopold, Cellos; Anita Mitterer, Violin.

CD 3 (TT: 65:08): 12 Concerti Grossi, Op. 6, HWV319-330 (cont.): No. 5 in D Major, HWV323; No. 6 in G Minor, HWV324; No. 7 in B-flat Major, HWV325; No. 8 in C Minor, HWV326.

Alice Harnoncourt, Eric Höbarth, Violins; Wolfgang Aichinger, Chrisophe Coin, Cellos; Anita Mitterer, Violin.

CD 4 (TT: 55:14): 12 Concerti Grossi, Op. 6, HWV319-330 (cont.): No. 9 in F Major, HWV327; No. 10 in D Minor, WV328; No. 11 in A Major, HWV329; No. 12 in B Minor, HWV330.

Alice Harnoncourt, Eric Höbarth, Thomas Zehetmair, Violins; Wolfgang Aichinger, Chrisophe Coin, Rudolf Leopold, Cellos; Anita Mitterer, Violin.

CD 5 (TT: 78:31): Water Music, HWV348-350*: Suite in F Major, HWV348; Suite in G Major, HWV350; Suite in D Major, HWV349; Music for the Royal Fireworks, HWV351.

English Baroque Soloists/John Eliot Gardiner*; Orchestra de Chambre Jean-François Paillard/Jean-François Paillard.
CD 6 (TT: 50:34): Concerto in B-flat Major for Oboe & Strings, HWV301 (Oboe Concerto No. 1); Concerto in B-flat Major for Oboe & Strings, HWV302a (Oboe Concerto No. 2); Sonata (Concerto) a 5 in B-flat Major for Violin & Orchestra, HWV288; Concerto Grosso in C Major, HWV318 (Concerto in Alexander's Feast); Concerto in D Minor for Organ & Strings, HWV304 (Organ Concerto No. 15).

Jürg Schaeftlein, Oboe; Alice Harnoncourt, Eric Höbarth, Violins; Rudolf Leopold, Cello; Herbert Tachezi, Organ; Concentus musicus Wien; Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor.