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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Handel performed with joy and spirit - music to cheer yourself up,
By
This review is from: Handel: 12 Concerti Grossi Op.6 (Audio CD)
Handel was greatly influenced by Italian music following his visit there as a young man and this is perhaps most obvious in the style of his operatic output. Here the opus 6 Concerti Grossi get the Italian treatment in a stylish, lively, and hugely enjoyable set of performances by Il Giardino Armonico under the direction of Giovanni Antonini. There are twelve concerti in the set - two of four movements, three of six movements, and the remainder of five movements. All are relatively short, with most movements lasting around two or three minutes and only one for more than five minutes. However, within these the composer explores an astonishing range of styles and tempi presented in joyful and sprited playing by an orchestra that is clearly enjoying itself.
There are tunes aplenty here, some familiar from their use elsewhere - Handel was an adept recycler of his own work as well as a magnificent tunesmith. He also had a great ability to use musical styles from many different countries and cultures - this set of pieces includes French and Polish influences as well as the English, German and Italian that you would expect from the composer's background. There are many outstanding performances here, particularly of the livelier and rhythmic pieces - such as the Polonaise in no 3. If I had to pick a favourite performance it would probably be no 5 with its greatly contrasting styles - terrific playing of the staccato opening movement, calming down to the central Largo then finishing with the lively Allegro and stately Menuet. Gorgeous! The package comes with a booklet with notes by Simon Heighes and with photos which concentrate on the players and their doings, rather than the composer and his era, which means that the front cover is rather bizarrely of a broken down bus! A more appropriate choice would perhaps be more likely to attract purchasers, but the quality of the music makes up for this odd marketing decision. There will doubtless be many more Handel releases in this year of the 250th anniversary of his death, but I suspect that few will beat this for a combination of performance and value-for-money. This is music to cheer yourself up with and I thoroughly recommend it.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A dramatic, yet thoroughly coherent view of this music,
By FL Traverso (Exeter, UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Handel: 12 Concerti Grossi Op.6 (Audio CD)
Well played and well-recorded, the Handel set from Il Giardino certainly does not disappoint if one looks for an off-the-track account of this music. Other period versions of these concertos that I have heard often seem pat and too well-behaved in comparison. It is not to be denied that some might find too many interpretative surprises here, but I think this loses sight of the fact that Handel was one of the greatest dramatists of his time. The very wide range of moods that he clearly looked for in this music deserves a grander and more explicit portrayal than usually encountered - the newest account from Avison Ensemble Handel - Concerti Grossi Opus 6 (Hybrid SACD - plays on all CD players) included.
5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
These chaps will try anything - apart from study early music,
By Prof. Svatopluk (Europe) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Handel: 12 Concerti Grossi Op.6 (Audio CD)
The Garden of Harmonicas will try any gimmick or ploy to sell CDs [who can blame them?] and this one is just more evidence of this depressing aim. They can play their instruments, there's no doubt about their solid and often impressive technique, but really we're back to the 1950s in terms of attention to performance practices - 'anything goes'. There are a number of better versions in the bargain bin at a fraction of the price and without the stupid 'Beach Boys' cover art. You can use the leftover money to take yourself to the pub in the knowledge you haven't been suckered by publicity ploys. That ought to cheer you up!
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