Composer: George Frideric Handel
Orchestra: Akademie fϋr Alte Musik Berlin
Conductor: Bernhard Forck
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Pentatone
Release: 2020
Size: 1.5 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Concerto grosso, Op. 6 No. 7 in B flat major, HWV325
01. I. Largo
02. II. Allegro
03. III. Largo
04. IV. Andante
05. V. Hornpipe
Concerto grosso, Op. 6 No. 8 in C minor, HWV326
06. I. Allemande
07. II. Grave
08. III. Andante allegro
09. IV. Adagio
10. V. Siciliana. Andante
11. VI. Allegro
Concerto grosso, Op. 6 No. 9 in F major, HWV327
12. I. Largo
13. II. Allegro
14. III. Larghetto
15. IV. Allegro
16. V. Menuet
17. VI. Gigue. Allegro
Concerto grosso, Op. 6 No. 10 in D minor, HWV328
18. I. Ouverture
19.II. Air. Lentement
20 .III. Allegro
21 .IV. Allegro
22 .V. Allegro moderato
Concerto grosso, Op. 6 No. 11 in A major, HWV329
23. I. Andante larghetto e staccato
24. II. Allegro
25. III. Largo e staccato
26. IV. Andante
27. V. Allegro
Concerto grosso, Op. 6 No. 12 in B minor, HWV330
28. I. Largo
29. II. Allegro
30. III. Aria. Larghetto e piano
31. IV. Largo
32. V. Allegro
The Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin continue their Handel trilogy with this recording of the last six concerti grossi of the composer’s Op. 6. Originally designed as attractive interludes to English oratorio performances, Handel’s concerti grossi soon gained fame as some of the most appealing orchestral music of the baroque era. With these pieces, written in London towards the end of his career, Handel paid tribute to the immensely popular concerti grossi of Corelli while simultaneously proving his mastery, incorporating all musical styles of his times into his work. The players of the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, led by their concertmaster Bernhard Forck, demonstrate why many consider them the best baroque ensemble of today. The concerti grossi Op. 6 are concluded with this second instalment, and a recording of the concerti grossi Op. 3 will complete the trilogy. The ensemble’s first PENTATONE album, Cantata (2018) with countertenor Bejun Mehta, won a Diapason d’or. Their 2019 recording of the first six Op. 6 concerti grossi was hailed as “immaculately played … free of fashionable eccentricities” by The Sunday Times, while Klassik praised the ensemble’s playing as “eloquent”.