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Handel: The Musick For The Royal Fireworks
Arcana

Handel: The Musick For The Royal Fireworks

$20.99

Details

Composer
HANDEL, GEORGE FRIDERIC
Artist
Zefiro, Bernardini
Format
CD
Label
Arcana
Released
Jun 30, 2015
Catalog #
A386
UPC
3760195733868

About


This is a reissue of a performance originally released on Deutsche Harmonia Mundi in Europe, one of the label’s final offerings before it was dissolved in 2008, and an import rarity that found little distribution in what was left of record retail in the US at the time. It was a shame because the recording features truly great performances in glorious, audiophile-quality sound of some of Handel’s most important and beloved orchestral works. Thankfully, Arcana has chosen to make it available once again.

For years my two longstanding reference recordings of this–the later, grander 1749 revision of the Royal Fireworks Music–were performances by Jordi Savall directing Le Concert des Nations (Astrée, now AliaVox) and Trevor Pinnock with the English Concert (DG Archiv), and I enjoyed both for different reasons. Much had to do with the tempo choices. Savall’s broader, more gracious approach–a 23-minute performance–provided a nice contrast to Pinnock’s more uptempo, often thrilling 18-minute run. At 21-plus minutes Zefiro’s performance strikes me as a “just right” middle course.

In my reference recordings I also appreciated how the relatively more spacious sound engineering of Savall’s recording complemented his performance, and how in a similar way the thinner, somewhat more detailed acoustic afforded to Pinnock complemented his. The DHM engineers astonishingly provide Zefiro with the best of both approaches in creating the illusion of a rich array of life-like instrumentation set in a convincingly wide, open-air soundstage. Savall enters the work without fanfare while Pinnock begins with a brief, celebratory drum roll. Zefiro ups Pinnock’s ante, opening the festivities with an opulent, elongated percussive roll, joined at the last moment by harpsichord and strings, in effect heightening the grandeur of the following, spectacular overture by the full orchestra. Perfect!

Zefiro’s performances of the three Concerti a due cori compare very favorably with Christopher Hogwood and the Academy of Ancient Music’s reference versions (L’Oiseau-Lyre, now Decca). Timings, the way the movements are shaped, and the dynamics are nearly identical, though again, Zefiro benefits from noticeably superior sound. The definition of the strings, and especially the brass, far surpasses what was possible with digital recording more than 30 years ago.

Mary Pardoe’s engaging notes, loaded with fascinating quotes and anecdotes, thankfully have been retained for this reissue. Arcana’s packaging and presentation, as usual, are second to none. Don’t miss this!

-- John Greene, ClassicsToday.com

Tracklist 24 tracks

  1. 1 I. Overture 08:38
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Overture
    Duration
    08:38
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Ensemble
    Zefiro
    Conductor
    Alfredo Bernardini
  2. 2 II. Bouree 02:04
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Bouree
    Duration
    02:04
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Ensemble
    Zefiro
    Conductor
    Alfredo Bernardini
  3. 3 III. La paix 03:08
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. La paix
    Duration
    03:08
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Ensemble
    Zefiro
    Conductor
    Alfredo Bernardini
  4. 4 IV. La rejouissance 03:40
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. La rejouissance
    Duration
    03:40
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Ensemble
    Zefiro
    Conductor
    Alfredo Bernardini
  5. 5 V. Minuet I - Minuet II 03:42
    Track
    5
    Title
    V. Minuet I - Minuet II
    Duration
    03:42
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Ensemble
    Zefiro
    Conductor
    Alfredo Bernardini
  6. 6 I. Ouverture 01:21
    Track
    6
    Title
    I. Ouverture
    Duration
    01:21
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Ensemble
    Zefiro
    Conductor
    Alfredo Bernardini
  7. 7 II. Allegro 02:38
    Track
    7
    Title
    II. Allegro
    Duration
    02:38
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Ensemble
    Zefiro
    Conductor
    Alfredo Bernardini
  8. 8 III. Allegro ma non troppo 02:48
    Track
    8
    Title
    III. Allegro ma non troppo
    Duration
    02:48
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Ensemble
    Zefiro
    Conductor
    Alfredo Bernardini
  9. 9 IV. Adagio 02:47
    Track
    9
    Title
    IV. Adagio
    Duration
    02:47
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Ensemble
    Zefiro
    Conductor
    Alfredo Bernardini
  10. 10 V. Andante larghetto 03:27
    Track
    10
    Title
    V. Andante larghetto
    Duration
    03:27
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Ensemble
    Zefiro
    Conductor
    Alfredo Bernardini
  11. 11 VI. Allegro 03:48
    Track
    11
    Title
    VI. Allegro
    Duration
    03:48
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Ensemble
    Zefiro
    Conductor
    Alfredo Bernardini
  12. 12 I. Ouverture 01:02
    Track
    12
    Title
    I. Ouverture
    Duration
    01:02
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Ensemble
    Zefiro
    Conductor
    Alfredo Bernardini
  13. 13 II. Allegro ma non troppo 02:40
    Track
    13
    Title
    II. Allegro ma non troppo
    Duration
    02:40
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Ensemble
    Zefiro
    Conductor
    Alfredo Bernardini
  14. 14 III. Allegro 02:15
    Track
    14
    Title
    III. Allegro
    Duration
    02:15
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Ensemble
    Zefiro
    Conductor
    Alfredo Bernardini
  15. 15 IV. Largo 02:27
    Track
    15
    Title
    IV. Largo
    Duration
    02:27
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Ensemble
    Zefiro
    Conductor
    Alfredo Bernardini
  16. 16 V. A tempo ordinario 01:42
    Track
    16
    Title
    V. A tempo ordinario
    Duration
    01:42
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Ensemble
    Zefiro
    Conductor
    Alfredo Bernardini
  17. 17 VI. Alla breve moderato 01:38
    Track
    17
    Title
    VI. Alla breve moderato
    Duration
    01:38
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Ensemble
    Zefiro
    Conductor
    Alfredo Bernardini
  18. 18 VII. Minuet 02:04
    Track
    18
    Title
    VII. Minuet
    Duration
    02:04
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Ensemble
    Zefiro
    Conductor
    Alfredo Bernardini
  19. 19 I. Pomposo 01:48
    Track
    19
    Title
    I. Pomposo
    Duration
    01:48
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Ensemble
    Zefiro
    Conductor
    Alfredo Bernardini
  20. 20 II. Allegro 01:54
    Track
    20
    Title
    II. Allegro
    Duration
    01:54
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Ensemble
    Zefiro
    Conductor
    Alfredo Bernardini
  21. 21 III. A tempo giusto 02:46
    Track
    21
    Title
    III. A tempo giusto
    Duration
    02:46
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Ensemble
    Zefiro
    Conductor
    Alfredo Bernardini
  22. 22 IV. Largo 01:49
    Track
    22
    Title
    IV. Largo
    Duration
    01:49
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Ensemble
    Zefiro
    Conductor
    Alfredo Bernardini
  23. 23 V. Allegro ma non troppo 03:46
    Track
    23
    Title
    V. Allegro ma non troppo
    Duration
    03:46
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Ensemble
    Zefiro
    Conductor
    Alfredo Bernardini
  24. 24 VI. A tempo ordinario 03:26
    Track
    24
    Title
    VI. A tempo ordinario
    Duration
    03:26
    Composer
    George Frideric Handel
    Ensemble
    Zefiro
    Conductor
    Alfredo Bernardini