Customer Reviews

Handel - Complete Violin Sonatas / Manze, Egarr

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Andrew Manze writes nearly as well as he plays. The short essay he provides to accompany this disc is knowledgeable, clear and witty. Handel's instrumental music is a scholars' playground - he left, and very likely kept, no proper catalogue of it, and it falls to specialists to clarify as best they can which compositions going under his name are really his. What the artists here give us is 7 complete sonatas and one that is presumably complete, plus two stranded individual movements. Of the 8 'complete' efforts 5, including the presumed-complete G major, seem to be definitely by Handel. Two sets of 12 'violin' sonatas were published by one Walsh, one under his own name and the other under the pseudonym 'Roger'. The works they contain do not exactly match up, and I would have liked the contents of each plus the contents of this disc laid out as a table so as to be completely clear about the issue. The best piece of all, placed first in this recital, seems to belong in neither edition, and the most original and unusual, placed second, is of doubtful attribution.

The players' style is all-the-way authentic. Full details of the 18th century instruments, plus a fascinating picture of the violin-maker's workshop, are provided on pages 12-13 of the booklet, and Manze goes into the question of the proper constitution of the continuo or accompaniment. I found that I adapted to the sound of the violin within seconds. There's a fair amount of action-noise from the harpsichord, but authentic is authentic, so I adapted to that too. The playing seems to me beyond criticism, full of verve in the fast movements and soul in the slow, and the recorded sound is of the highest modern standard. The works themselves are beautiful and fascinating. I wonder in particular whether Handel wrote the first movement of the F major sonata, and if not who did. It is not only an exceptional piece but decades ahead of its time, as Manze rightly says.

The production is fairly de luxe, containing not only an expensively printed booklet but also a full colour catalogue of Harmonia Mundi's current offerings. The set has won critical acclaim, which I endorse wholeheartedly, and it can be recommended without qualification to all Handelians and indeed to the music-loving public generally.

The beauty of simplicity. Such clear, beautiful, resonant tone.
(just listen to the first four notes of the F Major!)
It takes my breath away. What a great example of what the violin CAN sound like. His ornamental/improvisational ideas are great to listen to - he certainly isn't just regurgitating the same old Handel sonatas! A refreshingly different take on the sonatas. (I for one am not interested in hearing the same old interpretation one more time!). This is unique and amazing. I'd like to hear more classical artists add their own personal touch in the way that Andrew Manze can.

if you've ever been put off by the "miniaturising" approach some times encountered in "authentic" performances, this is the perfect antidote. manze really lays into it where appropriate, but his tone can also fall to a whisper when required - and he's in total command of every shade between.
and don't be put off by the Edith Eisler review: his "pianist" is doing a fine job on the harpsichord!

if you've ever been put off by the "miniaturising" approach some times encountered in "authentic" performances, this is the perfect antidote. manze really lays into it where appropriate, but his tone can also fall to a whisper when required - and he's in total command of every shade between.
and don't be put off by the Edith Eisler review: his "pianist" is doing a fine job on the harpsichord!

OK, I like this recording, but I am not as blown away as everyone else. I should preface this by saying 1) I'm a fan of Manze's playing and 2) I really love these pieces. That having been said, the performances are good but not quite there for me. The pacing, phrasing, and articulation don't always bring out the inherent charm of the music, I feel. However, I do like and appreciate the natural acoustic and balance of the recording-- you feel you're actually in the chamber listening to it live.

My all-time favorite recording of these pieces is Iona Brown's (from the 1980s). The late British violinist didn't play on a period instrument, but she specialized in the baroque, and her recordings of these pieces are just beautiful. Her approach is tasteful and period-sensitive-- with pretty ornamentation-- and yet at the same time bold and assertive. There's a crispness to the playing that I haven't heard in any other recordings of these pieces. The phrasing and articulation are first-rate-- all of the little details come through-- and the balance between the violin, harpsichord, and 'cello is perfect.

Back to Manze... He is of course a top-notch baroque violinist-- I just don't think this is one of his better collections.

I like this interpretation of Handel. Seems like the 'life' has been put back in the music.

same disc plus catalogue $8 new and less used!

I was thrilled when I discovered this recording of the Handel violin sonatas. I think it is great music and it's a pity that it haven't been recorded more. I have heard many of the other discs with Andrew Manze and I really like his playing. So, what about this one...
I have one word: Disapointment!
Manze has a unique way of playing, he never really gets into the deep tone of the violin. I like his soft and mysterious playing in italian music like Pandolfi and Schmelzer.
But in Handel it gets on my nerves!!
Sometimes you think that he is unsure what to do with each phrase. Let's face it. Handel is NOT Castello. The music is not as free and boundless as the italian works from the time and earlier. I think that the "Manze-hype" has gone too far and I think that other more seriously passionate violinists such as Biondi and the new star Carmignola (check out the new Vivaldi disc!) deserves YOUR attention a lot more than Andrew. If you want to enjoy the playing of Manze-get the Schmelzer and Pandolfi discs cause they are actually very good. But watch out for Handel and...Bach!

Authentic is this fine recording of Handel violin sonata. From the instruments to the score, research shows that these are authentic. While many other violin sonatas might be attributed, many are still in doubt.

Wise choice to use of harpsichord, since this can be traced to baroque era use over cello. Noted by Manze that Handel at times even accompanied these on harpsichord.

Fine playing and enjoyable recording.

I found these Sonatas incredibly boring to play and Manze pumped new life into them. I think he plays them beautifully and by listening to his interpretations it has absolutely reframed the Handel Sonatas for me. I also greatly appreciated his fine liner notes. When I first began listening I had to double check to assure it was not some sort of "digital" instrument--some of the cuts sound digitalized while some sound like a violin...this is my only problem with the CD. Some simply do not sound like a violin but like a key board trying to imitate a violin (though I know this is not so!) I have tried the CD in several different sound systems and it is the same in all and the recording simply does not do Mr. Manze's playing justice. I had packed my Handel Sonatas up long ago as uninteresting and lack luster but I am now enjoying the hell out of playing them--the problem was not in the composer but in my lack of vision and inability to "get" Handel. If you hate playing the Handel Sonatas do get this recording as this will change your entire perspective