Handel: Water Music; Music for the Royal Fireworks [SACD] [Enhanced, Super Audio CD - DSD]

George Frederick Handel (Composer), Pierre Boulez (Conductor), New York Philharmonic (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: New York Philharmonic
• Conductor: Pierre Boulez
• Composer: George Frederick Handel
• Audio CD (May 9, 2000)
• Please Note: Requires SACD-compatible hardware
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced, Super Audio CD - DSD
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00004T1EE
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #219,460 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A vintage Boulez recording beautifully presented, February 12, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Handel: Water Music; Music for the Royal Fireworks [SACD] (Audio CD)

This is the second of two reissues of recordings by Pierre Boulez and the New York Philharmonic on Sony Classical's current crop of SACD reissues. It presents this new audiophile medium in an excellent light. Based on superb late analogue recordings from Columbia Masterworks, they sound newly minted in these DSD transfers onto SACD. There is excellent frequency reponse and dynamic range, and virtually no tape hiss. As in other Columbia recordings of this era, there is a very clearly articulated stereo image, which is vividly reinforced in the transfer. It is hard to believe that these recordings are more than a quarter century old. It is nice to see them again, especially with the complete "Water Music": the old "Great Performers" LP and French Sony Classical CD in my collection provide only a selection from the three suites. Here you have the complete "Water Music" and "Fireworks" music.

As for the performances, these (as indeed others in the series) are gems from the catalogue. Boulez, the icy and intellectual modernist, is ideally suited to bringing out the brilliance, elegance, and splendid High Baroque polish of these public, celebratory works. He draws playing of an unbelievable refinement from his New York players, making them sound like (say) the Berlin Philharmonic on its best form.

The "Water Music" is one of the best ever recorded, on a par with any of the more recent "authentic" contenders, as is it the "Fireworks" music. In the latter, Boulez eschews the augmented brass and percussion favoured in many recordings, and prefers a more pared down set of orchestral forces, including a harpischord, which is clearly audible tinkling away right from the first bars. This is a nicely "inauthentic" authenticist touch, since surely no one present at the original open air performance could possibly have heard the harpsichord's tiny embellishments even if one were present!

To sum up, this disc is recommended without reservation, both for its musical merits and as an exemplar of the new SACD format.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars simply the reference version, November 17, 2007

By 

Mark Premo (Seattle, WA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Handel: Water Music (Complete); Music for the Royal Fireworks (Audio CD)

I'll say it: this is one of the finest recordings I've ever had the huge pleasure of owning. Great piece, superbly conceived by Boulez, and magnificently played by John Cerminaro, horn, and the entire ensemble.

Ok, I'm a former player, so I know. What Cerminaro does here is absolutely miraculous: his trills are so clear and perfect, it's as if he's playing the clarinet and hitting keys instead of making his lip behave with such precision.

But of course it's much more than technical artistry. Tempi, phrasing, dynamic range--all lead to sheer musical joy and carry the listener on a journey that never fails to exhilarate. If you're ever in the dumps, this recording will reaffirm your faith in man's goodness.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Surprise, December 2, 2007

By 

Robert T. Martin - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Handel: Water Music (Complete); Music for the Royal Fireworks (Audio CD)

Boulez and Handel, who would of thunk? These performances combine the big band, lush acoustic of the New York Philharmonic with playing of incredible nimbleness and virtuosity. Maestro Boulez allows his players to ornament freely and the results are astonishing. Look elsewhere if you like your Handel on original instruments or "lean and mean." However, if you love joyful and spontaneous music making with a broad emotional range and gorgeous sound, well this one's for you.