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Handel: Concerti grossi Op. 6 Nos. 1-12 HWV319-330

Academy of Ancient Music, Andrew Manze

Handel: Concerti grossi Op. 6 Nos. 1-12 HWV319-330

Awards:

Richard Egarr's charisma is infectious and the recorded sound sensational.

Handel: Concerti grossi Op. 6 Nos. 1-12 HWV319-330

Academy of Ancient Music, Andrew Manze

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320 kbps, MP3

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No digital booklet included

Stream now lossless, 44.1 kHz, 16 bit

Awards:

Richard Egarr's charisma is infectious and the recorded sound sensational.

About

Considered among the finest examples of Baroque orchestral music, Handel’s Concerti Grossi, Op.6, completed in 1739 over a mere four weeks, surpass the work of other outstanding composers of the form, such as Vivaldi, Scarlatti, and Corelli. Conceived as a grand cycle rather than as individual compositions, these 12 pieces demonstrate Handel’s facility blending a variety of styles and devices with seemingly endless melodic beauty.

Andrew Manze leads The Academy of Ancient Music in a vivid and vibrant performance.

Contents and tracklist

I. [no marking]
Track length1:39
II. Allegro
Track length1:57
III. Presto
Track length3:04
IV. Largo
Track length2:03
V. Allegro
Track length2:19
VI. Menuet
Track length3:07
I. A tempo giusto
Track length1:42
II. Allegro
Track length1:37
III. Adagio
Track length2:34
IV. Allegro
Track length2:26
V. Allegro
Track length2:50
I. Andante larghetto
Track length4:01
II. Allegro
Track length2:27
III. Largo
Track length2:18
IV. Allegro ma non troppo
Track length2:23
I. Larghetto
Track length1:18
II. Andante
Track length2:05
III. Allegro
Track length2:24
IV. Polonaise
Track length4:40
V. Allegro, ma non troppo
Track length1:26
I. Ouverture
Track length1:52
II. Air
Track length2:10
III. Air. Lento
Track length3:34
IV. Allegro
Track length2:06
V. Allegro
Track length2:52
VI. Allegro Moderato
Track length2:17
I. Andante larghetto, e staccato
Track length4:13
II. Allegro
Track length1:34
III. Largo, et staccato
Track length0:32
IV. Andante
Track length4:10
V. Allegro
Track length5:30
I. Largo
Track length1:07
II. Allegro
Track length2:41
III. Largo, e piano
Track length2:50
IV. Andante
Track length3:57
V. Hornpipe
Track length2:59
I. Larghetto e affettuoso
Track length3:16
II. Allegro, ma non troppo
Track length1:37
III. Musette. Larghetto
Track length4:46
IV. Allegro
Track length2:51
V. Allegro
Track length2:38
I. Larghetto affettuoso
Track length2:33
II. Allegro
Track length2:53
III. Largo, e piano
Track length2:13
IV. Allegro
Track length2:39
I. Largo
Track length1:20
II. Allegro
Track length3:19
III. Larghetto
Track length3:10
IV. Allegro
Track length1:57
V. Menuet
Track length1:33
VI. Gigue
Track length1:51
I. Allemande
Track length5:39
II. Grave
Track length1:23
III. Andante allegro
Track length1:59
IV. Adagio
Track length1:02
V. Siciliana
Track length2:52
VI. Allegro
Track length1:19
I. Largo
Track length1:46
II. Allegro
Track length2:48
III. Larghetto, e piano
Track length3:38
IV. Largo
Track length0:49
V. Allegro
Track length2:09

Awards and reviews

Richard Egarr's charisma is infectious and the recorded sound sensational.

2010

With one stride, Harmonia Mundi has stolen a march on Chandos Chaconne's rival set of Handel's Op 6 with Simon Standage's Collegium Musicum 90; by juggling with the order, the 12 concertos have been accommodated on only two CDs. The AAM is on sparkling form, clearly enjoying itself under Andrew Manze's leadership.
Performances are invigoratingly alert, splendidly neat (all those semiquaver figurations absolutely precise) and strongly rhythmical but not inflexible, with much dynamic gradation which ensures that phrases are always tonally alive and sound completely natural (even if more subtly nuanced than Handel's players ever dreamt of). Manze's basically light-footed approach is particularly appealing, and he sees to it that inner-part imitations are given their due weight.
Speeds are nearly all fast, occasionally questionably so (though exhilarating), as in the first Allegro of No 1, the big Allegro of No 6 and the Allegro in No 9. But Manze successfully brings out the character of all the movements, and the listener can't fail to love the vigorous kick of his No 7 hornpipe. He's mostly sparing in embellishing solo lines except in Nos-6 and 11.
Altogether this is an issue of joyous vitality.

13th August 2017

This is a joy...the inventiveness of these 12 concertos is staggering, and it’s seized upon by Manze and his fine players...Essential listening.
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