Music CD - Handel: Organ Concertos, Op. 4 [Hybrid SACD]

	Music CD: Handel: Organ Concertos, Op. 4 [Hybrid SACD] List Price: $20.98 Our Price: $15.38 Your Save: $ 5.60 ( 27% ) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
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Tracks: 1. Larghetto, e staccato (Organ Concerto in G minor, Op. 4, No. 1) 2. Allegro 3. Adagio 4. Andante 5. A tempo ordinario, e staccato (Organ Concerto in B-flat major, Op. 4, No. 2) 6. Allegro 7. Adagio, e staccato 8. Allegro, ma non presto 9. Adagio (Organ Concerto in G minor Op. 4, No. 3) 10. Allegro 11. Adagio 12. Allegro 13. Allegro (Organ Concerto in F major, Op. 4, No. 4) 14. Andante 15. Adagio 16. Allegro 17. Larghetto (Organ Concerto in F major, Op. 4, No. 5) 18. Allegro 19. Alla Siciliana 20. Presto 21. Andante allegro (Concerto in B-flat major, Op. 4, No. 6) 22. Larghetto 23. Allegro moderato
Binding: Audio CD EAN: 0093046744663 Format: Hybrid SACD Label: Harmonia Mundi Fr. Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr. Number Of Discs: 1 Publisher: Harmonia Mundi Fr. Release Date: 2008-02-12 Studio: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
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Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: Exciting performance, stunning sonics Comment: Organ performance is thrilling. Recording sonics are perfect - SACD and CD versions are stunning. After years of listening to original instrument performances, I still am not used to the whiny string sound found on these early music recordings. The performances here are so exciting and the recorded ambience so delicious that for the first time, I can understand why these works were so popular in their time. Customer Rating: Summary: Handel,Organ Concerto,s.Opus 4 Comment: I am pleased that I heard a small portion of this album whilst listening to Public radio whilst driving my truck !.The music made me smile and of course I ordered it the following day.I was NOT disappointed!.This is a lovely,light performance, and very easy listening. Customer Rating: Summary: Absolutely terrific!! Comment: Heard about this recording on NPR and ordered it immediately. It is true to the review and a wonderful addition to any collection. Customer Rating: Summary: A Disappointment Comment: I bought this disc on the strength of the reviews and the samples. I had already the Koopman, Ewerhart and Pinnock sets. Had I no other set I daresay I would have been more positive as it is a reasonable record or better. The organ sounds quite cute without noise from the instrument's action and the decoration remains just about within the realm of taste. The orchestra plays well and the disc is recorded well. So what's the problem? Well the tempi are rather variable some of the slow movements too slow and studied thus the fluency necessary to bring off these works is sometimes lost. Orchestra seems to be either in the background or loud and in one's face - exciting but not for repeated listening. The use of lute I did not like and the use of baroque guitar albeit in only one concerto I thought pathetically inadequate. Whether justified historically or not I cannot imagine the English public of the 18 th century standing for it nor Handel either. Surely both would have wanted "proper instruments" rather than these rather effeminate ones. Thus not bad but did not come up to my expectations. Unlike some I do at least have other sets in my possession with which to compare. The Pinnock/ Preston set I thought lacking in orchestral delicacy and spoiled thoroughly by a prominent chattering harpsichord. I prefer the Egarr to this. I prefer it also to the old Collegium Aureum/Ewerhart which has a tiny organ and rather thick and ponderous orchestral component. The winner by some margin is the inexpensive Koopman and ABO on apex including opus 7. The only drawback is some unobtrusive noise from the organ's action. If you accept this is natural then this record is quickish and exciting with precise and transparent orchestral playing. No harpsichord either! It just sounds right and played immediately after Egarr I thought clearly superior. Worth at least one star more. Customer Rating: Summary: Handel gems revealed Comment: This has been a wonderful discovery for me of Handel's organ concertos. I can't imagine a better disc than this; exquisite clarity of sound, beautifully paced tempi and great respect for rests between chords. The soloist & orchestra have so often been at loggerheads in earlier recordings I recall but here they achieve a glorious unity of sound and purpose. Wonderfully refreshing. Hardly out of my CD player. More Reviews
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