Whose music do you prefer: Handel's or Vivaldi's?

[Mark G. Simon]

Vivaldi has his strong moments. I am particularly drawn to the D minor concerto (no. 11) from L'estro armonico.

Overall, I think Handel has much more to offer in terms of variety, depth of expression, and theatricality. The operas of his I've seen (Agrippina, Orlando, Acis and Galatea) really work on the stage.

When I was a kid I fell in love with a recording of Handel flute sonatas, and my first compositional efforts were attempts to imitate them on a plastic flutophone which happened to be sitting around the house. This led to me taking up the recorder, and from there the clarinet. So I have a lot to thank Handel for.

[Don]

I have a much greater amount of Handel that of Vivaldi; so that probably answers the question.
Mike

Same here, and I gave away the Vivaldi discs/sets that I did have.  In my personal hierarchy of high baroque composers:

1.  Bach
2.  Handel
3.  Zelenka
4.  Telemann

[jwinter]

I'm not ashamed to admit it, my personal tastes run strongly toward Vivaldi.  I have more Vivaldi in my collection than any other baroque composer save JS Bach.  Vivaldi had a real genius for melody, it seems to me, tossing out lovely, singable lines at a clip that sometimes reminds me of Mozart.  He's also the one baroque composer where recordings have really convinced me that HIP is the way to go -- I have my fair share of big-band recordings from the 60s & 70s that make Vivaldi seem a bit stodgy and repetitive, but when I listen to somebody like Carmignola play his late concerti, I'm amazed at the inexhaustible energy Vivaldi's music can create, it literally tries to yank you out of  your chair and make you dance around the room.  I'm also amazed at his ability to generate so many concerti for so many solo instruments -- I love the ones for bassoon, oboe, recorder, flute, cello, lute, etc. -- and the way he brings out the unique qualities of each instrument, it's not like he's just recycling violin concerti and redistributing the parts.

I've tried a decent amount of Handel, primarily Pinnock in the concerti & the Brilliant box of the chamber works (+ the Messiah, naturally), and while I do enjoy it, it never grabs me in the way that Vivaldi and Bach do -- purely a deficiency on my part, it goes without saying, and I shall keep at it. 

One last point: while I like this thread, I generally don't spend much time thinking about Vivaldi in relation to the German baroque school -- stylistically Vivaldi is after something very different than Bach or Handel, and it's like comparing apples and oranges to a certain extent, IMO.  To take a pop music example, arguing Vivaldi vs Handel is sort of like arguing Johnny Cash vs James Brown -- yes they were contemporaries, they both scored some top 40 hits on the same charts, they both shared a few common influences, but given the radical differences in their musical output, how can you really compare them?  But as Karl and Mark have pointed out, it's good that this thread is clearly about personal preferences, not another "who's the best composer?" hoe-down.

[Wanderer]

I have great affection for both composers in more or less equal measure; however, Vivaldi's operatic output would make me lean slightly in his favour for the needs of this poll.

... while I like this thread, I generally don't spend much time thinking about Vivaldi in relation to the German baroque school -- stylistically Vivaldi is after something very different than Bach or Handel, and it's like comparing apples and oranges to a certain extent, IMO.

I agree with this comment.

[lukeottevanger]

I wonder what Rod thinks? 

Handel tips the scales for me for all sorts of reasons, but Vivaldi can me more of a charmer, and I wouldn't want to be without more than a few of his pieces.

[Mark]

One last point: while I like this thread, I generally don't spend much time thinking about Vivaldi in relation to the German baroque school -- stylistically Vivaldi is after something very different than Bach or Handel, and it's like comparing apples and oranges to a certain extent, IMO.

Believe it or not, there is a simple rationale behind my desire to compare these two Baroque giants. Namely, that they - along with Bach and Telemann - are arguably the 'big names' of the period. There'd be no contest if Bach were involved; and if I'd gone for one of this pair against the once very popular Telemann, I fear Mr T would've done very badly (or at least, earned only Harry's vote). So Handel versus Vivaldi it had to be.

[lukeottevanger]

Well, strictly speaking, there didn't have to be any comparing at all, did there?

(I'm no fun, I know)

[Mark]

Well, strictly speaking, there didn't have to be any comparing at all, did there?

(I'm no fun, I know)

True. But comparisons are fun ... you killjoy!

[lukeottevanger]

Guilty as charged.

[(poco) Sforzando]

Same here, and I gave away the Vivaldi discs/sets that I did have.  In my personal hierarchy of high baroque composers:

1.  Bach
2.  Handel
3.  Zelenka
4.  Telemann

I have very little Vivaldi in my collection (a little goes a long way), even less Telemann (whatever I've heard has been a snooze), no Zelenka (haven't gotten into him yet), some Handel (a lot goes a long way), tons of Bach (no limit as to what goes a long way), as well as respectable amounts of Rameau, Couperin, Purcell, and D. Scarlatti in my personal hierarchy of the high baroque.

[Josquin des Prez]

I wonder what Rod thinks? 

If anything, this thread proves that Handel's predilection to vocal works as opposed to instrumental music does more to prevent the diffusion of his compositions (and by extension his reputation) rather then whatever dubious conspiracy theory.

My vote is for Handel, at any rate.

[Josquin des Prez]

One last point: while I like this thread, I generally don't spend much time thinking about Vivaldi in relation to the German baroque school -- stylistically Vivaldi is after something very different than Bach or Handel, and it's like comparing apples and oranges to a certain extent, IMO.

There's nothing "German" about Handel, he's Italian through and through. He has much more in common with Vivaldi (and even more with the previous generation of Italian composers: Scarlatti, Correlli and Pasquini) then with the great cantor. This trend to bracket Bach and Handel together when they have absolutely zero in common (other then their nationality) IS in fact a big misconception.

[Haffner]

I'd have to give it up for Handel. I love Vivaldi's Four Seasons, and not too much else. Handel just has so many amazing sacred works and operas...for me it's an easy preference.

[71 dB]

I like both composers but Händel is much greater to me.

[FideLeo]

JS Bach's choice was Vivaldi! From whom he actually learned a lot.   

[Mark]

So, much love for both composers, it would seem.

[Wendell_E]

So, much love for both composers, it would seem.

And all we need is love.

I voted for il caro sassone.

[Mozart]

For operas, I prefer Handel. I think Vivaldi's opera arias are generally more exciting and fiery. I came to the conclusion that Vivaldi elicits a more emotional response to music, while Handel a logical one. For non vocal music I prefer Vivaldi, Handel puts me to sleep.


nel profondo cieco mondo
http://youtube.com/watch/v/skbYd-wYPZE

al lampo dell'armi
http://youtube.com/watch/v/yjCyrNI-48A

[Mozart]

I'd have to give it up for Handel. I love Vivaldi's Four Seasons, and not too much else. Handel just has so many amazing sacred works and operas...for me it's an easy preference.

Well to be fair, there are alot more good recordings of Handel's opera and oratorios than Vivaldi's.

[Josquin des Prez]

Well to be fair, there are alot more good recordings of Handel's opera and oratorios than Vivaldi's.

I think that's mitigated by the fact Vivaldi is getting a complete edition where's Handel is not.