BaL 25.03.23 - Handel: Water Music

[Darloboy]

Previous BaL choices:

Ronald Woodley (December 1980): Hogwood + Paillard as runner-up on modern instruments
Roderick Swanston (April 1991): Pinnock + McGegan/Philharmonia Baroque; Marriner 1971; Warchal; and Mackerras' Prague recording as also recommendeds
Lucie Skeaping (March 1999): Dombrecht
Colin Lawson (April 2009): Guglielmo

[Mal]

Previous BaL choices:

Ronald Woodley (December 1980): Hogwood + Paillard as runner-up on modern instruments
Roderick Swanston (April 1991): Pinnock + McGegan/Philharmonia Baroque; Marriner 1971; Warchal; and Mackerras' Prague recording as also recommendeds
Lucie Skeaping (March 1999): Dombrecht
Colin Lawson (April 2009): Guglielmo

I have Marriner in the old 8cd London box set... going second hand at reasonable prices (not selling my set!)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Handel-Orchestral-Works-Box-Set/dp/B00000C2G2

[Goon525]

A very competent and fluent BaL, I thought, by Hannah French, disappointing only to one or two here who seem to think nothing worthwhile has been recorded since they established their growing-up favourites, round about 1970!

[Master Jacques]

No complaints about the professionalism of this morning's BaL, although (as often) I found that I don't share Hannah French's tastes in Handelian performance. She values a caffeine rush, rather than the rich, reflective comfort food - or Augustan balance, if you prefer - which I look for in this marvellous music. Too many of her preferences indulge the anachronistic, somewhat frantic haste of the 21st century. Yet although I won't be changing my own allegiances (primarily to Pinnock) I was glad to hear these alternatives, and French's cogent arguments in their favour.

When you're tired of the Water Music, perhaps you're tired of life. When this piece ceases to give me pleasure, I suspect it'll be time to move onwards and upwards. Bravo Handel!

[smittims]

Round about 1970. Goon? 1951 in my case , Boyd Neel being my own favourite.

I wonder if Handel had any idea his music would still be so popular 274 years after his death.

[Darloboy]

I already have both the winner and the Niquet recordings. Tempted to invest in the Labardie modern instrument recording…

[Barbirollians]

I already have both the winner and the Niquet recordings. Tempted to invest in the Labardie modern instrument recording…

I thought it was the epitome of the nothing is worth listening to unless it was recorded since 2000 on HIPP instruments approach that is so tedious on BAL nowadays - love it when the reviewers rebel .

My favourites remain Pinnock and Menuhin - much of what she played today seemed hectic and unenjoyable to me .

[Goon525]

QED? Although I like the Pinnock too.

[Master Jacques]

I wonder if Handel had any idea his music would still be so popular 274 years after his death.

I think he had enough self-appreciation to have had every expectation that it would be. His surprise would have been the (egregiously long) time his operas spent in the wilderness, and I wouldn't want to be the one who told him about their temporary eclipse!

[Master Jacques]

My favourites remain Pinnock and Menuhin - much of what she played today seemed hectic and unenjoyable to me .

... and Savall sounding not only hectic, but up a stylistic gum tree. Water Music is not a Spanish renaissance classic.

[vibratoforever]

A very competent and fluent BaL, I thought, by Hannah French, disappointing only to one or two here who seem to think nothing worthwhile has been recorded since they established their growing-up favourites, round about 1970!

Have some posts been deleted? This appears the first after the broadcast, so are the comments about other forumites a guess?

[MickyD]

No complaints about the professionalism of this morning's BaL, although (as often) I found that I don't share Hannah French's tastes in Handelian performance. She values a caffeine rush, rather than the rich, reflective comfort food - or Augustan balance, if you prefer - which I look for in this marvellous music. Too many of her preferences indulge the anachronistic, somewhat frantic haste of the 21st century. Yet although I won't be changing my own allegiances (primarily to Pinnock) I was glad to hear these alternatives, and French's cogent arguments in their favour.

When you're tired of the Water Music, perhaps you're tired of life. When this piece ceases to give me pleasure, I suspect it'll be time to move onwards and upwards. Bravo Handel!

I would agree with this - and I have to say that her preference for 'a caffeine rush' is reflected in her delivery at times.

Hearing the opening salvo from Harnoncourt's 1978 VCM performance blind made me realise just how much I still like his version. For me it's a pity that the Minkowski/Musiciens du Louvre version wasn't included - it seems to strike a good balance to the more excessive approaches of recent times. And what a shame Reinhard Goebel never got round to recording the piece, that would have been well worth hearing.

[gurnemanz]

I acquired Pinnock only a couple of years ago via his 11CD Complete Handel Orchestral set from DG. The download from Presto struck me as irresistibly good value when I happened upon it, and it has proved a very worthwhile buy.

[Master Jacques]

I acquired Pinnock only a couple of years ago via his 11CD Complete Handel Orchestral set from DG. The download from Presto struck me as irresistibly good value when I happened upon it, and it has proved a very worthwhile buy.

If I could only retain one Handel orchestral collection (perish the thought!) it would certainly be Pinnock's. Nothing hyped, nothing rushed. Everything here happens at a wonderfully natural level, conveying the pleasure which the performers took in their work, with everyone (not least Preston in the Organ concertos) at the height of their powers. A set for the ages.

[jayne lee wilson]

A TRIUMPHANT RAPPROCHEMENT!

Respect to Pioneer Pinnock, but I always found his Baroque and Classical assumptions a little too straight and rhythmically stolid, lacking the colourful individualistic textures and instrumental agility of later strands of historical performance with Niquet, Savall, Antonini in various repertoire, or my all-time favourite group - the AfAMB!
I love their sound and whole Philosophy of Musical Life, so despite my shades of personal Handelian jade, with shelves full of their CPE, Telemann and the recent 2020/27 Beethoven Symphonies, I had to try this one.

Which is pretty damn wonderful, full of fluidity, festive drive and rhythmic variety, many shades of ensemble and individual colour (exceptional wind solos, shifting string numbers/textures) and constantly varying pace and phrase enlivening the state-of-the art sonic tableau. The AAMB’s tempi never seem excessive to me; I know this group well, and find my ear drawn close by that tempo variabile. Again, in direct comparison with Pinnock, their more responsive micro-dynamics allow the music to breathe and to sing so freely.

I’ll never want to hear the work often, but for one high-resolution Sunday afternoon, the virtuosic warmth, the perfect balance of instrumental blend and separation in the solo/ensemble contrasts, the dancing and singing vitality, brought the piece back to vivid life for me. From brash and brilliant to flowing soft, it’s all so seductively playful.

If a given listener wanted just one Water Music, this would be a good one to have!


Handel : Water Music
Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin
Released on 05/02/2016 by harmonia mundi

QOBUZ 24/96.

*****

Tangential NB/PS - Hervé Niquet is a fascinating artist - check out his startling take on the Brahms German requiem (an iconic work for me). The most operatic and by far the swiftest (51'!) on record. You'll never hear it the same way again....