Search - Handel, Newman :: Harpsichord Suites

Excellent All-around

K. Bowersock | Lubbock, TX | 11/16/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Anthony Newman does a fantastic job with the "great eight". Tempos are wisely chosen; never too quick (as is often the case with these suites played on harpsichord), but definitely never too slow (as is the case on almost all the piano recordings of these suites). The 1st, 3rd, and 8th suites are particularly well done; and as far as the 5th goes, it gets a very well-played, although somewhat straightforward performance.



The harpsichord Newman plays on has a very pleasing tone (unlike the instrument Glenn Gould used on his Handel recording); and as far as the recording goes, the sonics are fantastic with the instrument properly miked. All-around, this is a superb recording of Handel's' eight great contributions to the baroque keyboard literature. I see that the recording seems to be out of print, so if you can snag a copy now, get it while you can. While they may not be the Goldberg variations, these suites are filled with endless melodies which only the genius of Handel could have given us. This is certainly a keyboard disc that should be in everyone's collection.

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