Nicholas A. Deutsch | New York, NY USA | 12/30/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Handel's "Twelve Grand Concerto's", Op. 6, are one of the peaks of both his output and Baroque music in general - a seemingly endless stream of invention spanning moods from deep melancholy (even tragedy) to toe-tapping mirth. And this new recording goes straight to the top of my personal list, alongside Andrew Manze's acclaimed version with the Academy of Ancient Music (Harmonia Mundi). Indeed, this version by the Polish ensemble Arte dei Suonatori under conductor (and occasional organist) Martin Gester may even be deemed preferable by those who found Manze occasionally driving things too hard. These are, first of all, ravishingly played, with a beauty of tone all the lovelier for never being self-consciously so. The interplay between the "concertino" and "ripieno" sections is clearly the result of years of working together; there is a blessedly straightforward quality to these interpretations that does not preclude imagination. Gester's tempi seem absolutely right, and the vigorous movements - that famous Hornpipe in No. 7 included - go thrillingly; the slower, more introspective ones are particularly striking.
I've been playing these 3 CDs over and over for two weeks now, and never tire of either the music or performances. Highly recommended."