Search - Kehr, Angerer, Southwest German Chamber Orchestra Pforzheim :: Handel: Concerti Grossi, Op.3 & 6 [Germany]

A Handelian Bargain

Ray | 09/26/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This re-release from the Southwest German Chamber Orchestra belongs in every Handel-lover's library. The recording is excellent, the performance is quite good, and the price is a steal. For less than ten dollars you here have the complete sweep of Handel's opus 3 and ops 6 of the Concerti Grossi, some of the best orchestral music ever penned. It's easy to spend upwards of between $50 and $100 to purchase these pieces on premier labels, and so this item is a "no-brainer" by any stretch of the imagination. You say it's not quite up to the level of Trevor Pinnock and the English Consort's set on the Deutsche Grammaphon "Archive" label? You're probably right. And it matters not a whit. The performance here is excellent, the recording quality outstanding, and the set gives us an almost cost-free opportunity to hear a different interpretation of Handel's master orchestral pieces. Even though the disk contains Japanese language on the cover, this is a set recorded and printed in Germany, obviously for Japanese export. This is an easy recommend for any Handel aficionado. Enjoy!



Compare My Favorite Recordings of the Same Pieces:

Handel: Concerti Grossi, Op. 6, Nos. 1-4

George Frideric Handel: Concerti Grossi, Op. 6, Nos. 5 - 8

George Frideric Handel: Concerti grossi, Op. 6, Nos. 9 - 12

Handel: 6 Concerti Grossi Op. 3: The Engish Concert

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Handel Concerti Grossi Opus 3 and 6

Jim Tyler | Rockville, VA | 07/13/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a four CD album. Cds 2,3,and 4 are re-issues of a VOX (VOXBOX3 CD3-3005)release, one of the best recordings of Opus 6 extant. Opus 6 is recorded by the Southwest German Chamber Orchestra. The artistry, interpretation, and recording are superb. Opus 3 (CD1) is recorded by Mainzer Kammerorchestra. This time the interpretation is more forceful, almost wooden. In Concerto 2 Movement 2 (Largo) the Oboe soloist breaks the mold with an inspired performance of the work and drags the strings along for the ride. The rest of the CD is more relaxed. There is a lot of beautiful music in the Handel Concerti Grossi. This should make a nice addition to anyone's musical library."