Search - Michael George, George Frederick Handel, James Bowman :: Handel: Music for Royal Occasions

A marvellous demonstration of Handelian ingenuity....

William | Brisbane, Queensland Australia | 09/07/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have immense feelings of joy when ever I listen to this CD. Some of the music on it was previously unknown to me before I had purchased the CD, but it is has now come to be a definite favourite.



As the title suggests, this is a collection of rather grand music, Handel at his most ceremonial. It is the style with which he became most associated in the years after his death, where an image of grandiose surrounded him, greatly sustained by the almost biblical status the Victorian age gave him. While it has some consensus now that this image probably wasn't helpful to Handel in the long run, it is still good to hear a rousing Handel anthem now and again.



King is at his best in these marvellous interpretations. He breathes new life into almost anything he conducts. Certainly this should be no exception. Of particular note, is the anthem 'Sing unto God'. After an admirable introduction on the violins, a lone counter-tenor sings but four introspectively powerful notes, before the full and breath-taking entry of the choir and orchestra combined, in massive block chords. It is a marvellous demonstration of Handelian ingenuity, in a deceptive appearance of simplicity. The entire anthem is incredible, and one can only imagine with what wonder the first audiences listened to it.



It's a shame also that the 'Anthem for the birthday of Queen Anne' isn't more well known. Handel's treatment is expansive, and the choral refrains are remarkably varied, the first being my personal favourite, with it's imposing entry, and highly skilled counterpoint.



I warmly and whole-heartedly recommend this CD to all, in what is a stunning example of excellence, and a triumph for Robert King."

Rare material, fine performance

Robert D. Harmon | Mill Valley, CA | 03/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Beautiful work by the King's Consort and the Oxford choir, of some fairly hard-to-find and worthwhile works by Handel: Ode to Queen Anne's Birthday, Te Deum, Sing Unto God. I prefer a little more up-tempo on the first Ode aria, Eternal Source of Light Divine, but that's a personal quibble and I highly recommend this album to anyone interested in baroque in general, baroque vocal works, and Handel in particular."

Music no Handel lover should be without

Kariba | Vancouver, BC | 03/29/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a delightful album. The choir sings with enthusiasm and the soloists are a who's who of British Baroque performers. Of particular note is Michael George, who is in fine voice and who has one of the most beautiful solos on the album -- Thy Wife Shall be as the Fruitful Vine -- accompanied by Jane Coe on cello.



The recording is spacious, yet the sound is clear and focused. Highly recommended."