The AAM and Egarr Does it Again!
Ray | 11/18/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This recording on the opus 7 organ concertos by Handel is another wonderful addition to the "Handel opus number" series recordings recently made by the Academy of Ancient Music under the direction of Richard Egarr. If you enjoy Baroque music, or if you are a Handel aficionado, there is little doubt that you will enjoy this recording as much as I do.
Handel was a prodigious composer, but he focused much of his time on the development of Oratorios and Operas. As everyone knows, Handel's genius shines forth in many of these pieces, and to know them is to be a real joy. But Handel was also a master of orchestral music, and we find ourselves wishing that he had spent just a little bit more time focusing on the development of such works: the Concerto Grossi opus 6 is just one example of what Handel could do when he decided to compose for the orchestra. His Concerto Grossi opus 3 is another example, as are his Concerto a Due Cori pieces, and here, his wonderful organ concertos.
The Academy of Ancient Music, now under the direction of Richard Egarr, recently completed a recording cycle that covers Handel's opus 1 through 7 works, and here, the Organ Concertos (opus 7 in the series) are played with AAM's typical clarity and wit. The decision to record this series is a welcome one, indeed, for there is far too little current recording work surrounding Handel these days (much of it was accomplished to well deserved critical acclaim back in the 1980's via Gardener, Pinnock, Hogwood, and others), and it is this understanding which helps us accept the relatively high cost of these disks. Yes, the cost can be high, but if this is what it takes to support a new generation of players recording Handel with the latest in electronic equipment, it is certainly well worth it. This recording is superlative in every sense, and if one listens with a keen ear towards recognizing the recording itself, it can be seen what advances have been made in recording technology over the years.
You say that you're not an organ fan? Well, I've not been one, either, but this set may make you change your mind. These pieces are gorgeous, witty, dramatic, and sometimes, even humorous. You find yourself, as often we do with Handel, drawn into a world of musical beauty, and the experience can be simply amazing. These pieces show what Handel could do with an orchestra and with the organ, as well. (Since Handel himself was an expert organist, one of the best in all of Europe at the time, we can only imagine the fun - and that's the world for it, to be sure - Handel himself must have enjoyed when he played these pieces himself, which he almost certainly did.
As most every recording in this AAM series of Handel's orchestral works, this entry easily rates as five stars for the performance, and five stars for the recording. It's a wonderful and masterful addition to the library of Handel recordings. And it's worth every penny.
Other Disks in the AAM's Handel-Opus-Number Series:
Handel: 12 Solo Sonatas, Op. 1Aca
Handel: Concerti Grossi, Op. 3; Sonata a 5
Handel: Organ Concertos, Op. 4 [Hybrid SACD]
Trio Sonatas Opp. 2 & 5
Handel - Concerti grossi, op. 6 / AAM · Manze"
