Help with Handel

[Todd]

Okay, I'll 'fess up: I have a pitiful Handel collection.  Colin Davis' Messiah, a set of Organ Concertos, and Theodora, along with a smattering of pieces from various recitals.  My Handel-specific recordings are thin, thin, thin.  I'm planning on getting Eric Heidsieck's recordings of the keyboard suites at some point, but otherwise I'm pretty rudderless here.  Any top 1, 2, or 3 suggestions for recordings from Handel?

[kishnevi]

Okay, I'll 'fess up: I have a pitiful Handel collection.  Colin Davis' Messiah, a set of Organ Concertos, and Theodora, along with a smattering of pieces from various recitals.  My Handel-specific recordings are thin, thin, thin.  I'm planning on getting Eric Heidsieck's recordings of the keyboard suites at some point, but otherwise I'm pretty rudderless here.  Any top 1, 2, or 3 suggestions for recordings from Handel?

Somewhat disorderly--
Gardiner's Messiah and Alexander's Feast, Ariodante in either the McGegan or Curtis versions, Keith Jarrett's recording of some of the keyboard suites,  Emmanuel Haim's recording of Dixit Dominus (paired with Bach's Magnificat),  the Orpheus recording of the Opus 6 Concerti Grossi (which you can get as a three decker with the Water Music/Royal Fireworks Music),  the Sixteens' recording of the Coronation Anthems, and anything from Egarr/AAM's series of sonatas and concertos on Harmonia Mundi (two installments of which are the organ concertos, I should add, in light of what you have already).  And for an interesting detour into historical recordings, the recording of Alcina on DG which features Sutherland and Wunderlich in a concert performance.

I hesitate to recommend any specific recordings of any other oratorios or operas, simply because my holdings in that category are not very deep, and there seem to be several worthwhile contenders for many of the more famous ones.  I have some of the opera recordings by Curtis/Complesso Barocco and they seem uniformally good.   But much of my Handel is really vocal recitals--Lorraine Hunt Lieberson,  Joyce DiDonato, Max Cencic, Mark Padmore,  Ian Bostridge, Rolando Villazon....

I don't particularly like Water Music/Royal Fireworks Music--too many listens, I think; at any rate, you can print out the Amazon listings, throw a dart, and the result will have a good chance of being a more than satisfactory  performance.  My only PI performance seems to be Savall.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

To me Handel = the stage works. Quality off the charts.

Starting out I'd probably recommend Agrippina (Gardiner). The string of stand-out arias is just amazing. And it may be the most colorful work in all Handel.

Another fave is Imeneo (Spering). It's a somewhat subdued piece with high lyricism. But again expertly crafted.

Then there's Hercules (Minkowski). It has a sweetness to it without dipping into sentimentality. 

This is a pretty good starting point. The list is endless, though.

[Octave]

AGRIPPINA is great!  I don't have much distance to it, because I first listened to the whole thing just several days ago, but it's such gorgeous music.

Here are three from three genres that have given me great pleasure in at least three listens each:

[asin]B000AL8ZEW[/asin]
ITALIAN CANTATAS (Emma Kirkby + Hogwood/AAM)
I've also gotten a great deal of pleasure from the much more recent recordings of the Italian Cantatas by La Risonanza dir. Fabio Bonizzoni, on the fine Glossa label; that's a series of seven (?) single discs in nicely-designed packaging.  I have heard good things about the Brilliant series too, though I'm going to wait for a box to collect them, and for more reviews as the dust settles.

[asin]B0006Z2LN8[/asin]
VIOLIN SONATAS (Manze/Egarr)
I am also keen to try out a competing/complementary disc of these piece by Hiro Kurosaki w/William Christie, whose character [the recording's, that is] is reputed to be quite different from the Manze.

[asin]B00000J2Q5[/asin]
CARMELITE VESPERS (Parrott et al)
I became interested in this disc when I saw it shortlisted in a "desert island Handel" list of one of the editors' at Gfhandel.org and two friends echoed that enthusiasm.  The disc has been such a companion in the meantime.  It's cheating, but I should also mention how much I've enjoyed Parrott's ISRAEL IN EGYPT.  I've heard good things about the Gardiner recording of this piece, but I think it uses a different [truncated?] edition.  I also notice that the Musica Omnia label very recently put out what it calls "the first complete recording" of IIE, on three discs, which apparently is the 1759 version with an added original 1739 part I.  It's up for a 2013 Grammy!
http://www.musicaomnia.org/trinity_wall_street.asp
I'd be interested in opinions on this recording, if anyone's heard it.

[The new erato]

Get the Glossa series of cantatats. 7 volumes. Incredibly high standards, compact works, catching Handel at his best (IMO) in all his youthful genius - that is, in dramatic works, and containing the seeds of what is to come. After that you will be hooked. For contrast, get the op 6 Concerto grossi. Both Harmonia Mundi and Linn has excellent sets. After that you will be set for the large scale works (operas and oratorios), of which there are at least 20 that I consider essential, with Ariodante and Saul perhaps being my two favorites in their respective categories.

Acis and Galatea may also be a good place to start, containing elements of both categories, and being both musically and dramatically very fine witout being too long. Christie's version is very fine.

[Octave]

Acis and Galatea may also be a good place to start, containing elements of both categories, and being both musically and dramatically very fine witout being too long. Christie's version is very fine.

Erato or anyone: how does the Dunedin Consort dir. John Butt ACIS AND GALATEA (Linn) compare to Christie's?  This newer recording (Butt/Linn) advertises itself as the "original canons performing version, 1718", but I really don't know how this differs from the edition Christie used. 
I was thinking of getting Christie's anyway, as it comes in one of those little Warner box sets with his THEODORA, which I've read really good things about.  A review at Newolde (iirc) said that the McCreesh and Christie sound quite different and are equally beautiful and complement one another well.

[The new erato]

Erato or anyone: how does the Dunedin Consort dir. John Butt ACIS AND GALATEA (Linn) compare to Christie's?  This newer recording (Butt/Linn) advertises itself as the "original canons performing version, 1718", but I really don't know how this differs from the edition Christie used. 
I was thinking of getting Christie's anyway, as it comes in one of those little Warner box sets with his THEODORA, which I've read really good things about.  A review at Newolde (iirc) said that the McCreesh and Christie sound quite different and are equally beautiful and complement one another well.

I have both but really couldn't say without further research. Soundwise the Linn set sounds "lighter" and more chamberlike IIRC - but as to editions I cannot say. I only have Christie's Theodora, but from McCreesh's Saul and Solomon I easily can imagine them being quite different, but eqally fine.

[mszczuj]

Okay, I'll 'fess up: I have a pitiful Handel collection.  Colin Davis' Messiah

First you should sell this and buy Hogwood Messiah.

[The new erato]

Or the Gardiner or Butt (Edit: I meant Besznosiuk; on Linn), both of which also are very good.

[Holden]

Try this

[asin] B000002SE5[/asin]

[Lisanti]

I have and greatly enjoy Handel's Concerti Grossi, Opus 6; I have The English Concert/Trevor Pinnock CDs, bought back when there was not so much Baroque around; there are probably more versions available now.  I also have their Water Music, which is, I admit, often overplayed, but still enjoyable. I realized recently that I don't have the Royal Fireworks, like the Water Music, perhaps overplayed, but still joyful.

I also have and like the Complete Wind Sonatas by the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, bought recently at a tremendous sale at Archiv. For Messiahs, I tracked down the Mackerras Handel/Mozart version, having heard it (not with Mackerras) at Lincoln Center, lo these many years ago, and falling in love with it.

[SonicMan46]

Hi Todd - well, not sure that I can add much, but I have a LOT of Handel's instrumental music and little of his vocal output (except the Messiah x 2 & Israel in Egypt, & Joshua), so my comments will be on the his former output, and not sure what would interest your the most, e.g. keyboard, chamber, larger orchestral works?

Probably the first works I acquired were the Concerti Grossi, Op. 6, Water Music, & Royal Fireworks Music - these have been so often recorded & heard that one may not want to hear them again! Now, I have 'duplicates' of these works, but the ones below have given me much listening pleasure.  Of his other 'chamber' offerings, the Violin Sonatas, Trio Sonatas, & Oboe Works are some of my favorites (really enjoy the London Baroque disc of the Trio Sonatas).

Also have organ & keyboard works - the Keyboard Suites will likely be of interest; below, the Michael Borgstede is a 4-CD set on harpsichord, and the Ragna Schirmer a 3-CD box on modern piano.  Good luck in your choices - Dave

   

   

[Oldnslow]

The Eight Great Suites played by  Lisa Smirnova (ECM) is outstanding  keyboard Handel

[Todd]

...what would interest you the most, e.g. keyboard, chamber, larger orchestral works?

Yes.

As expected, many fine suggestions, and thanks to all who have contributed so far.  Looks like I'll have to plan a multi-month purchase schedule.  For me, the obvious first choices are Manze/Egarr in the Violin Sonatas, Gavrilov/Richter in the suites (don't know how I missed that), and probably Savall & Co.  (My experience with Savall is that his qualitative range runs from outstanding to insanely great, so he seems a good choice.)  Agrippina will lead the stage works.  (I must also mull over whether to attend a local performance of Rinaldo coming up.)  The Glossa series looks interesting too; the extremely fine Gesualdo disc from the label bodes well.  And the Concerto Grossi look promising. 

It may take the rest of the year to get a handle on it all.

[Bogey]

Harry sent me this chamber set some time ago, Todd and I love it!

[asin]B000EQ5QEU[/asin]

[Bogey]

AGRIPPINA is great!  I don't have much distance to it, because I first listened to the whole thing just several days ago, but it's such gorgeous music.

Here are three from three genres that have given me great pleasure in at least three listens each:

[asin]B000AL8ZEW[/asin]
ITALIAN CANTATAS (Emma Kirkby + Hogwood/AAM)
I've also gotten a great deal of pleasure from the much more recent recordings of the Italian Cantatas by La Risonanza dir. Fabio Bonizzoni, on the fine Glossa label; that's a series of seven (?) single discs in nicely-designed packaging.  I have heard good things about the Brilliant series too, though I'm going to wait for a box to collect them, and for more reviews as the dust settles.

[asin]B0006Z2LN8[/asin]
VIOLIN SONATAS (Manze/Egarr)
I am also keen to try out a competing/complementary disc of these piece by Hiro Kurosaki w/William Christie, whose character [the recording's, that is] is reputed to be quite different from the Manze.

Mandatory....even if you do not care for Handel.

[Bogey]

Oh, and this one....you must have this one!


[asin]B000001G4Q[/asin]

[Octave]

[....]Gavrilov/Richter in the suites (don't know how I missed that), and probably Savall & Co.  (My experience with Savall is that his qualitative range runs from outstanding to insanely great, so he seems a good choice.) [...] 

FWIW, I remember the Gavrilov/Richter SUITES being excellent but also in hard-edged sound and maybe kind of "bangy", if this matters; also, I think the Richter contributions (but not the Gavrilov) were included in the EMI ICON box set, also FWIW.  I somehow still don't have the Savall WATER/FIREWORKS disc, but more people than I can count on one hand (who don't even all know each other, afaik) have said that it's simply one of the great recordings, of Handel or of anything; Presto was selling the SACD for like $9 in their Alia Vox sale and I missed it.      I decided to bide my time a bit and try again.

[Octave]

Harry sent me this chamber set some time ago, Todd and I love it!

[asin]B000EQ5QEU[/asin]

I am interested in that HIP chamber collection as well; FYI a short review from David Vickers at gfhandel.org:
http://gfhandel.org/reviews/chambermusiccrd.htm

I think the now-expensive Brilliant (formerly CRD) HIP chamber box is included in the Handel PORTRAIT big box, which I was not tempted by until a veteran GFH-freak friend sung the praises of Somary's Handel, of which this box includes an ample sample.  I would like to know about the quality of the performances herein if anyone knows some or all:

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[Rhymenoceros]

Try this

[asin] B000002SE5[/asin]

+1!

I love Keyboard Suite No. 7.