Customer Reviews

Handel: Concerti Grossi, Op. 6, Nos. 1-6

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

 

 

Outside of Trevor Pinnock's version of Op. 6, I find Martin Pearlman and the Boston Baroque CD to be the best available for Handel's Op. 6 Concerti Grossi. Although the Boston Baroque is a period band in instrumentation and scale, the results are never abrasive or grating to the ear. The Boston Baroque's sound is very clean and clear; detailed but not thin. Under Pearlman's direction tempos are fast (but not hurried) and rhythms are consistently lively. An additional bonus is that the CD contains the first 6 concerti grossi, rather than the usual 4, which totals over 76 minutes of music. While Pearlman may not bring the last ounce of sparkle to this music that Trevor Pinnock does, that does not constitute a knock. This CD is recommended with reservation to period and nonperiod listens alike.

...is that you give a CD a 5-star rating, praise it to the heavens, and then say you recommend it WITH reservation...where you meant to say you recommend it WITHOUT reservation.

Or enough sleep.

My old "music appreciation" text from college listed Handel's concerti grossi as equal to the best baroque music ever written. I'm not sure I'd totally agree but it is very nice to listen to.