Handel Edition
Handel
CD BOX Rel Date: 2015-09-25
An exact contemporary of Bach, George Frideric Handel was one of the most important composers of the Baroque era, carving out a career for himself which was equally as impressive as his fellow countryman's. Born in Halle, Germany, to parents who were initially opposed to his devotion to music, Handel soon moved from his hometown to the great operatic centre of Hamburg. The opportunity to meet people from around Europe led to a rapid development of his skills, and, influenced by the Italian style that was gathering pace around him, the composer took the opportunity to travel to Italy, staging La Resurrezione in Rome in 1708. Handel's reputation soon picked up, and in 1710 he became Kapellmeister to the Elector of Hannover, Prince George, who would soon become King George I of England. The connection with England had been established, and Handel moved there permanently in 1714, helping to found the Royal Academy of Music five years later. When the new Covent Garden Theatre was established in 1736, Handel celebrated the opening night with a performance of Alexander's Feast (included in full on this release). Following his operatic success, the composer turned to oratorios, starting with the biblical Saul and Israel in Egypt, and premiering Messiah in Dublin in 1742. The next year, despite suffering paralysis in his hand, he completed Samson and the Dettingen Te Deum, with Semele appearing in February 1744. Five years later came one of his most popular works, Music for the Royal Fireworks; up to 12,000 people attended the first performance, an indication of just how popular the composer was in his own lifetime. After staging a performance of Messiah to benefit the Foundling Hospital in 1749, Handel was made a governor, beginning a relationship with the institution that would last the rest of his life.Although he was most famous for his opera and oratorios, Handel composed a large amount of keyboard music; among the works featured on this compilation are the Suites de pieces pour le clavecin, the first volume of which appeared in 1720. His chamber music (mostly solo and trio sonatas) also makes up an important part of his oeuvre, with his best contributions to this genre contained in the Opus 2 collection (included in full on this release), which comprises sonatas for oboe, flute, recorder or violin and represents the perfect summation of the composer's wealth of invention and expressivity. Handel was also an expert orchestral writer, composing purely orchestral music alongside music for his dramatic works. The Water Music, justly some of his most celebrated music today, was the first in England to be scored for horns; and the Music for the Royal Fireworks was a massive project, with three horns and three trumpets combining forces to create the sound necessary to carry outdoors. Both these works and an array of other orchestral pieces are included on this substantial box set.A wealth of artists - both established and emerging - make up this Brilliant Classics release, once again representing astonishing value for money. Handel's orchestral music is performed by a variety of German chamber groups, including the Händel-Festspielorchester Halle, and the ensuing oboe and organ concertos are played by Baroque experts City of London Sinfonia. The trio sonatas feature L'École d'Orphée, which boasts players drawn from some of the leading British Baroque orchestras, including the Academy of Ancient Music. The consistently high quality of playing continues with Roberto Loreggian performing Handel's harpsichord music, and legendary soprano Arleen Augér singing his German arias. Sir David Willcocks conducts the Holland Boys' Choir in the Coronation Anthems, including the ever popular Zadok the Priest, and arguably Handel's most famous oratorio, Messiah, is performed by the Choir of King's College, Cambridge, conducted by Stephen Cleobury. An excellent gift idea, this release represents superb value for money and hours of listening pleasure.The most comprehensive Handel Edition on the market!Brilliant Classics continues it's famous Composer Edition series with one of the giants of the Baroque, George Frideric Handel, the celebrated German who settled in London. Having absorbed the German and Italian styles of his time he formed his own distinctive musical language, which, while following the current fashions and audience preferences, retained his own deep humanity and inner power. Handel embraced all musical genres of his time, and this Edition, while not "Complete", presents a substantial and representative oeuvre: 12 complete oratorios, cantatas, Odes, Anthems, Arias, Duets, the complete chamber music, the complete keyboard works, the complete organ concertos, oboe concertos, the complete Concerti Grossi, the Water Music and Fireworks Music: a musical feast of grandeur and intimacy, of joy and sorrow, of pomp and grace, of instrumental and vocal brilliance and of every emotion a human being is capable of.excellent performances by leading ensembles, soloists and choirs: Concerto Köln, Neues Bachisches Collegium Musicum, English Chamber Orchestra, King's College Choir and many others.
Tracklist:
- Suite No. 1 In F Major, Hwv 348: I. Ouverture. Largo - Allegro
- Suite No. 1 In F Major, Hwv 348: II. Adagio E Staccato
- Suite No. 1 In F Major, Hwv 348: III. -
- Suite No. 1 In F Major, Hwv 348: IV. Andante
- Suite No. 1 In F Major, Hwv 348: V. Da Capo
- Suite No. 1 In F Major, Hwv 348: VI. -
- Suite No. 1 In F Major, Hwv 348: VII. Air
- Suite No. 1 In F Major, Hwv 348: VIII. Minuet
- Suite No. 1 In F Major, Hwv 348: IX. Bourrée
- Suite No. 1 In F Major, Hwv 348: X. Hornpipe
- Suite No. 1 In F Major, Hwv 348: XI. -
- Suite No. 2 In D Major, Hwv 349: I. -
- Suite No. 2 In D Major, Hwv 349: II. Alla Hornpipe
- Suite No. 2 In D Major, Hwv 349: III. Minuet
- Suite No. 2 In D Major, Hwv 349: IV. Lentement
- Suite No. 2 In D Major, Hwv 349: V. Bourrée
- Suite No. 3 In G Major, Hwv 350: I. -
- Suite No. 3 In G Major, Hwv 350: II. Rigaudon
- Suite No. 3 In G Major, Hwv 350: III. -
- Suite No. 3 In G Major, Hwv 350: IV. Da Capo
- Suite No. 3 In G Major, Hwv 350: V. Menuet
- Suite No. 3 In G Major, Hwv 350: VI. -
- Suite No. 3 In G Major, Hwv 350: VII. -
- Suite No. 3 In G Major, Hwv 350: VIII.
- Music For The Royal Fireworks, Hwv 351: I. Ouvertüre
- Music For The Royal Fireworks, Hwv 351: II. Bourrée
- Music For The Royal Fireworks, Hwv 351: III. La Paix
- Music For The Royal Fireworks, Hwv 351: IV. La Réjouissance
- Music For The Royal Fireworks, Hwv 351: V. Menuet I
- Music For The Royal Fireworks, Hwv 351: VI. Menuet II
- Sinfonia In B-Flat Major, Hwv 339: I. Allegro
- Sinfonia In B-Flat Major, Hwv 339: II. Adagio
- Sinfonia In B-Flat Major, Hwv 339: III. Allegro
- Sinfonia In B-Flat Major, Hwv 347: I. Pomposo
- Sinfonia In B-Flat Major, Hwv 347: II. Air Lentement
- Sinfonia In B-Flat Major, Hwv 347: III. Air. A Tempo Ordinario
- Concerto A Due Cori, Hwv 332: I. Ouvertüre
- Concerto A Due Cori, Hwv 332: II. Allegro Ma Non Troppo
- Concerto A Due Cori, Hwv 332: III. Allegro
- Concerto A Due Cori, Hwv 332: IV. Largo
- Concerto A Due Cori, Hwv 332: V. A Tempo Ordinario
- Concerto A Due Cori, Hwv 332: VI. Alla Breve Moderato
- Concerto A Due Cori, Hwv 332: VII. Menuet
- Concerto A Due Cori, Hwv 333: I. Pomposo
- Concerto A Due Cori, Hwv 333: II. Allegro
- Concerto A Due Cori, Hwv 333: III. A Tempo Giusto
- Concerto A Due Cori, Hwv 333: IV. Largo
- Concerto A Due Cori, Hwv 333: V. Allegro Ma Non Troppo
- Concerto A Due Cori, Hwv 333: VI. A Tempo Ordinairo
- Concerto A Due Cori, Hwv 334: I. Ouvertüre
- Concerto A Due Cori, Hwv 334: II. Allegro
- Concerto A Due Cori, Hwv 334: III. Allegro Ma Non Troppo
- Concerto A Due Cori, Hwv 334: IV. Adagio
- Concerto A Due Cori, Hwv 334: V. Andante Larghetto
- Concerto A Due Cori, Hwv 334: VI. Allegro
- Organ Concerto No. 1 In G Minor, Hwv 289, Op. 4: I. Larghetto E Staccato
- Organ Concerto No. 1 In G Minor, Hwv 289, Op. 4: II. Allegro
- Organ Concerto No. 1 In G Minor, Hwv 289, Op. 4: III. Adagio
- Organ Concerto No. 1 In G Minor, Hwv 289, Op. 4: IV. Andante
- Organ Concerto No. 2 In B-Flat Major, Hwv 290, Op. 4: I. A Tempo Ordinario E Staccato
- Organ Concerto No. 2 In B-Flat Major, Hwv 290, Op. 4: II. Allegro
- Organ Concerto No. 2 In B-Flat Major, Hwv 290, Op. 4: III. Adagio E Staccato
- Organ Concerto No. 2 In B-Flat Major, Hwv 290, Op. 4: IV. Allegro Ma Non Presto
- Organ Concerto No. 3 In G Minor, Hwv 291, Op. 4: I. Adagio
- Organ Concerto No. 3 In G Minor, Hwv 291, Op. 4: II. Allegro
- Organ Concerto No. 3 In G Minor, Hwv 291, Op. 4: III. Adagio
- Organ Concerto No. 3 In G Minor, Hwv 291, Op. 4: IV. Allegro
- Organ Concerto No. 4 In F Major, Hwv 292, Op. 4: I. Allegro
- Organ Concerto No. 4 In F Major, Hwv 292, Op. 4: II. Andante
- Organ Concerto No. 4 In F Major, Hwv 292, Op. 4: III. Adagio
- Organ Concerto No. 4 In F Major, Hwv 292, Op. 4: IV. Allegro
- Organ Concerto No. 5 In F Major, Hwv 293, Op. 4: I. Larghetto
- Organ Concerto No. 5 In F Major, Hwv 293, Op. 4: II. Allegro
- Organ Concerto No. 5 In F Major, Hwv 293, Op. 4: III. Alla Siciliana
- Organ Concerto No. 5 In F Major, Hwv 293, Op. 4: IV. Presto
- Harp Concerto In B-Flat Major, Hwv 294: I. Andante Allegro
- Harp Concerto In B-Flat Major, Hwv 294: II. Larghetto
- Harp Concerto In B-Flat Major, Hwv 294: III. Allegro Moderato
- Organ Concerto No. 6 In B-Flat Major, Hwv 294, Op. 4: I. Andante Allegro
- Organ Concerto No. 6 In B-Flat Major, Hwv 294, Op. 4: II. Larghetto
- Organ Concerto No. 6 In B-Flat Major, Hwv 294, Op. 4: III. Allegro Moderato
- Organ Concerto No. 7 In B-Flat Major, Hwv 306, Op. 7: I. Andante
- Organ Concerto No. 7 In B-Flat Major, Hwv 306, Op. 7: II. Largo E Piano
- Organ Concerto No. 7 In B-Flat Major, Hwv 306, Op. 7: III. Fuga
- Organ Concerto No. 7 In B-Flat Major, Hwv 306, Op. 7: IV. Adagio
- Organ Concerto No. 7 In B-Flat Major, Hwv 306, Op. 7: V. Bourrée
- Organ Concerto No. 8 In A Major, Hwv 307, Op. 7: I. Ouverture
- Organ Concerto No. 8 In A Major, Hwv 307, Op. 7: II. A Tempo Ordinario
- Organ Concerto No. 8 In A Major, Hwv 307, Op. 7: III. Organo Ad Libitum
- Organ Concerto No. 8 In A Major, Hwv 307, Op. 7: IV. Allegro
- Organ Concerto No. 9 In B-Flat Major, Hwv 308, Op. 7: I. Andante
- Organ Concerto No. 9 In B-Flat Major, Hwv 308, Op. 7: II. Organo Ad Libitum. Sarabande
- Organ Concerto No. 9 In B-Flat Major, Hwv 308, Op. 7: III. Spiritoso
- Organ Concerto No. 9 In B-Flat Major, Hwv 308, Op. 7: IV. Minuet I
- Organ Concerto No. 9 In B-Flat Major, Hwv 308, Op. 7: V. Minuet II
- Organ Concerto No. 10 In D Minor, Hwv 309, Op. 7: I. Adagio
- Organ Concerto No. 10 In D Minor, Hwv 309, Op. 7: II. Allegro Così Così
- Organ Concerto No. 10 In D Minor, Hwv 309, Op. 7: III. Organo Ad Libitum
- Organ Concerto No. 10 In D Minor, Hwv 309, Op. 7: IV. Allegro
- Organ Concerto No. 11 In G Minor, Hwv 310, Op. 7: I. Staccato Ma Non Troppo Allegro. Adagio
- Organ Concerto No. 11 In G Minor, Hwv 310, Op. 7: II. Andante Larghetto E Staccato. Adagio
- Organ Concerto No. 11 In G Minor, Hwv 310, Op. 7: III. Menuet
- Organ Concerto No. 11 In G Minor, Hwv 310, Op. 7: IV. Gavotte