Customer Reviews

Music for the Royal Fireworks / Cti a Due Cori

5 star:		(4)
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This has long been a favorite recording of mine, finally available on CD. Recorded after midnight on the 200th anniversary of the death of Handel (the only time 26 professional oboists could be gathered together), the recording was an early attempt at performing the piece with its original instrumentation, albeit with modern instruments. But what players they were, at least in the horn section. Recorded not long after the death of Dennis Brain, it is a testament to the quality of British horn playing of the period, one not to be equaled until recent years. The horn section entrance in the Overture has to be heard to be believed. And hearing 26 oboes dig into their runs is nothing if not fun. For years the Concerti for Two Cori was music I listened to whenever I was down. It never failed to lift my spirits until, finally, I wore the poor recording out. The sound is remarkable for the period and bears hearing.

I'm in total agreement with the review by Mr. Schiefelbein, this is a great, great recording and a highly unique one. Other subsequent attempts at recreating the original scoring of the Music for the Royal Fireworks has been made, even by Mr. Mackerras himself - in more modern sound, but never with the same overwhelming exuberance and sheer volume of sound. It must have sounded truly fantastic live. For years I had a really terrible pressing of this on a British Pye LP, and longed for the day when somebody would do a proper job of remastering it on CD. Thank god for Testament. Though the age of these recordings are betrayed by a bit of tape hiss and an ever-so-slight graininess to the sound, the performances in and of themselves are enough to knock your socks off. A truly legendary and iconic Handel recording...none other could replace it.

The other two reviewers have extolled the playing of the horns and oboes in the Fireworks, and I can't disagree with them. "Overwhelming exuberance" hits the nail right on the head.

But don't overlook the snare drum! I rate the Fireworks by how many goosebumps it raises and this performance takes the cake. The horns are brilliant and the twenty-six oboes twitter away magnificently and the kettle drums rumble on, but the snare here has the snap of a magnum in a J-frame. On the good performances it grabs my attention and won't let go.

Thank you, gentlemen, for your reviews which prompted me to purchase this CD.

This is a wonderful recording. I am not aware of any more modern recordings of the Fireworks Music that recreate the original instrumentation, and the sheer numbers of players of the original performance. Even those who prefer their Handel recordings with "original instruments" need not hesitate. The articulation of the (many) modern instruments would satisfy any listener. The early stereo sound is superb. Also entertaining are the liner notes detailing how this unusual recording came to be made. The cd is well worth the investment by devotees of Handel, and Charles Mackerras.