Handel: Die Acht Grossen Suiten (Eight Great Suites)

as Lisa Smirnova's vivacious account of the Eight Great Suites reminds us, they're a treasure-trove of Handelian wit and humanity. Purists will certainly need to take them on Smirnova's terms,... — BBC Music Magazine, January 2011, 5 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 21st Nov 2011
Catalogue No: 4764107
Label: ECM
Series: New Series
Length: 1 hour 45 minutes

BBC Music Magazine

January 2012

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Handel: Keyboard Suite, HWV 427 in F major

Work length9:25

$3.40

$4.20

Lisa Smirnova (piano)
Recorded: 2009
Recording Venue: Schloss Goldegg, Goldegg

Adagio

Track length3:33

$0.85

$1.05

Allegro

Track length2:08

$0.85

$1.05

Adagio

Track length1:44

$0.85

$1.05

Allegro

Track length2:00

$0.85

$1.05

Handel: Harpsichord Suite Set I No. 8 in F minor, HWV 433

Work length11:36

$4.25

$5.25

Lisa Smirnova (piano)
Recorded: 2009
Recording Venue: Schloss Goldegg, Goldegg

Prélude

Track length1:50

$0.85

$1.05

Allegro

Track length2:47

$0.85

$1.05

Allemande

Track length3:13

$0.85

$1.05

Courante

Track length1:35

$0.85

$1.05

Gigue

Track length2:11

$0.85

$1.05

Handel: Harpsichord Suite Set I No. 4 in E minor, HWV 429

Work length14:05

$4.25

$5.25

Lisa Smirnova (piano)
Recorded: 2009
Recording Venue: Schloss Goldegg, Goldegg

Allegro

Track length3:09

$0.85

$1.05

Allemande

Track length2:15

$0.85

$1.05

Courante

Track length2:04

$0.85

$1.05

Sarabande

Track length4:39

$0.85

$1.05

Gigue

Track length1:58

$0.85

$1.05

Handel: Harpsichord Suite No. 5 in E HWV 430 "The Harmonious Blacksmith"

Work length11:35

$3.40

$4.20

Lisa Smirnova (piano)
Recorded: 2009
Recording Venue: Schloss Goldegg, Goldegg

Prélude

Track length1:38

$0.85

$1.05

Allemande

Track length4:22

$0.85

$1.05

Courante

Track length1:46

$0.85

$1.05

Air - Double 1-5

Track length3:49

$0.85

$1.05

Handel: Harpsichord Suite Set I No. 3 in D minor HWV 428

Work length22:54

$5.10

$6.30

Lisa Smirnova (piano)
Recorded: 2009
Recording Venue: Schloss Goldegg, Goldegg

Prélude

Track length1:17

$0.85

$1.05

Allegro

Track length3:05

$0.85

$1.05

Allemande

Track length3:44

$0.85

$1.05

Courante

Track length1:43

$0.85

$1.05

Air - Double 1-5

Track length8:37

$0.85

$1.05

Presto

Track length4:28

$0.85

$1.05

Handel: Harpsichord Suite No. 6 in F sharp minor HWV 431

Work length8:51

$3.40

$4.20

Lisa Smirnova (piano)
Recorded: 2009
Recording Venue: Schloss Goldegg, Goldegg

Prélude

Track length1:31

$0.85

$1.05

Largo

Track length2:32

$0.85

$1.05

Allegro

Track length2:00

$0.85

$1.05

Gigue

Track length2:48

$0.85

$1.05

Handel: Harpsichord Suite Set I No. 1 in A major, HWV 426

Work length10:35

$3.40

$4.20

Lisa Smirnova (piano)
Recorded: 2009
Recording Venue: Schloss Goldegg, Goldegg

Prélude

Track length1:50

$0.85

$1.05

Allemande

Track length3:21

$0.85

$1.05

Courante

Track length2:23

$0.85

$1.05

Gigue

Track length3:01

$0.85

$1.05

Handel: Harpsichord Suite No. 7 in G minor HWV 432

Work length16:00

$5.10

$6.30

Lisa Smirnova (piano)
Recorded: 2009
Recording Venue: Schloss Goldegg, Goldegg

Ouverture

Track length3:09

$0.85

$1.05

Andante

Track length3:09

$0.85

$1.05

Allegro

Track length1:32

$0.85

$1.05

Sarabande

Track length2:47

$0.85

$1.05

Gigue

Track length1:27

$0.85

$1.05

Passacaille

Track length3:56

$0.85

$1.05

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About

ECM New Series debut for the exceptional Russian-born pianist Lisa Smirnova, playing Handel’s Eight Great Suites (1720), also known as “The Eight London Suites” or “Suites de Pièces pour le Clavecin” – by any name, major pieces in the keyboard literature. Outstanding artists from Glenn Gould to Keith Jarrett have been drawn to these suites, but there are very few recordings of all eight, either on piano or harpsichord, currently on the market. Smirnova opts for the modern piano. She had been working rigorously on the Suites for five years prior to undertaking this recording, making many discoveries.

The 1720 edition of Suites – HWV 426-433 – is considered by many the most important collection of Handel’s early works. Published by the composer himself, it includes works from both his Hamburg and English periods, all extensively revised by the composer, right through the printing process.

Educated at Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Conservatory, the Salzburg Mozarteum, and with Maria Curcio and Robert Levin, Smirnova (born in Moscow, currently living in Austria) burst onto the classical scene in 1992 with a well-received debut at Carnegie Hall when she was only 20. In 1993, she received the Brahms Prize at the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival, the first pianist ever to be honoured with this award, and her concert activities have extended to international concert podia in Europe, Asia and the USA. She has a long relationship with the Far East – since 2007 she has been Artistic Director of the Nagasaki-Ojika International Music Festival.

Smirnova’s repertoire extends across the centuries – she has collaborated with contemporary composers including Kancheli, Silvestrov and Rihm, and won international awards for her recordings of Bach on MDG. Other widely-praised recordings include her account of Bloch’s works for viola and piano with Daniel Raiskin, on BMG/Arte Nova.

Reviews

January 2011

as Lisa Smirnova's vivacious account of the Eight Great Suites reminds us, they're a treasure-trove of Handelian wit and humanity. Purists will certainly need to take them on Smirnova's terms, too. Although she engages with period practice...she's no slave to it, producing something unapologetically pianistic and sometimes anachronistic here...Handel with care? Undeniably. And with captivating flair in spades.

25th February 2012

Handel's first set of London suites played on the piano, in the hands of Lisa Smirnova, are a resounding success. This is a performance of real artistry and is unspeakably beautiful at moments. If I had to pick out highlights - a difficult task - the E minor and F# minor suites are, for me, some of the best Handel playing I've heard.

March 2012

this is a truly delightful couple of discs...for the sound picture not only allows the illusion of a harpsichord when appropriate (try the Prelude to Suite No. 1) but serves the clarity of rapid passagework extremely well...Smirnova's limpid touch and lucid tone are perfect partners for Handel and, with an excellent booklet, one can only look forward to Vol. 2.

1st December 2011

Smirnova here performs the so-called "Eight London Suites" with great sensitivity and poise - the first movement of the Suite No. 2 opens with the most startlingly delicate of trills - and subtle differentiation between the various Gigues, Allemandes, Courantes and Sarabandes whose abundance reflects the suites' origins in contemporary dance forms.

Handel: Die Acht Grossen Suiten (Eight Great Suites)

2 CDs

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