Handel Concerti Grossi

[richardfinegold]

I am laid up with COVID—third effing time, and right as we were about to leave for a family beach vacation—but really grooving (never use that term—the Virus must be activating the 1966 part of my brain)—with the Beznosiuk recording. I’ve always enjoyed these pieces but somehow they have really clicked. Hopefully the appreciation will last longer than the infection

[RichardB]

I am laid up with COVID—third effing time, and right as we were about to leave for a family beach vacation—but really grooving (never use that term—the Virus must be activating the 1966 part of my brain)—with the Beznosiuk recording. I’ve always enjoyed these pieces but somehow they have really clicked. Hopefully the appreciation will last longer than the infection

Sorry to hear that RF, I guess it's a professional hazard. You chose an excellent recording though.

[MickyD]

Have liked Hogwoods version for some time, but recently got hold of the vintage Harnoncourt set. Despite it's eccentricities, I've found much to enjoy in it

[richardfinegold]

Have liked Hogwoods version for some time, but recently got hold of the vintage Harnoncourt set. Despite it's eccentricities, I've found much to enjoy in it

I had lived with the Orpheus recording for so long. Nothing wrong with it but Beznosiuk is like a fresh coat of paint

[Pulcinella]

Have liked Hogwoods version for some time, but recently got hold of the vintage Harnoncourt set. Despite it's eccentricities, I've found much to enjoy in it

I prefer Hogwood to Pinnock, which I also have.
I've got the Op 3 set in two other versions: ASMF/Marriner and Linde Consort/Linde (EMI Reflexe), the latter of which I particularly like and enjoy too.

PS: Here's a link to one of the current incarnations of the Linde recording.

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/7980893--handel-concerti-grossi-op-3-nos-1-6-hwv312-317

Why on earth does the cover say 'Highlights'?
I see (hadn't realised before ) that they include a 'spurious' No 4a.

[Sir Velo]

Of course, as Cloughie would no doubt tell us, nothing comes close to Klemperer in this repertoire.

However, for those of us who like to count the calories, these energetic performances perhaps come closer to the true thing-in-itself.

[richardfinegold]

Of course, as Cloughie would no doubt tell us, nothing comes close to Klemperer in this repertoire.

However, for those of us who like to count the calories, these energetic performances perhaps come closer to the true thing-in-itself.

That looks interesting. How is the recording? The Brandenburgs from that source are demonstration quality, and the recordings date from the mid naughties

[Pulcinella]

For some reason I have two sets of the Lea Pocket Score edition of the Opus 6 set (LPS 71 and LPS 72), bought five years apart: in Oxford in February 1973 and in Boston in June 1978.
If anyone would like to relieve me of one of them, send your name and address in a PM and I'll pop them in the post.
But you need good eyesight to be able to read them!

[RichardB]

Of course, as Cloughie would no doubt tell us, nothing comes close to Klemperer in this repertoire.

Surely you mean Beecham.

Manze and the AAM are excellent in op.6 (that's the recording that got me into these pieces), also Pinnock if you like the added oboes. I met Bernhard Forck a few months ago, an imaginative and committed musician and also refreshingly modest. But I haven't heard that recording yet.

[Sir Velo]

That looks interesting. How is the recording? The Brandenburgs from that source are demonstration quality, and the recordings date from the mid naughties

Demonstration class again I would say. Clear definition and spacing around the instruments but in a realistic acoustic.

[Sir Velo]

Surely you mean Beecham.

.

Yeah, gotta love those yaks thundering about.

[cloughie]

Of course, as Cloughie would no doubt tell us, nothing comes close to Klemperer in this repertoire.

However, for those of us who like to count the calories, these energetic performances perhaps come closer to the true thing-in-itself.

I’m not anti HIPP but these appear to be at the stodgy end of the scale - I prefer Pinnock, Hogwood and Manze. Thurston Dart was an excellent Handelian. I believe he was a great influence on Neville Marriner and Christopher Hogwood. Re-evolution does come in several stages.
We’d be Baching mad not to Handel it and become too HIPPocritical!