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| Erato (Full price) (CD) 4509-91716-2 (56
minutes: DDD). Recorded in association with Bull and Delta Lloyd. |
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| Consort of London, Haydon Clark (6/90) (COLL)
1015-2 |
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| Concertgebouw CO, Preston (8/91) (DECC) 430
717-2DM |
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| EBS, Gardiner (5/93) (PHIL) 434 122-2PH |
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| Concert des Nations, Savall (3/94) (ASTR) E8512 |
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Several of the numerous recordings of the Water
Music couple it with its 'natural' partner, the Music for the Royal Fireworks,
whilst some others contain nothing else. However, when one of the latter ilk is of
outstanding excellence, quality should prevail over economics in the building of a
library. One such case is John Eliot Gardiner's recording with the English Baroque
Soloists, which I described in my review as "a hard act to follow", and another
is this new one by Amsterdam Baroque with Ton Koopman. Both are period-instrument
performances that place the three Suites in logical rather than printed order, induct
(though at different junctures) the two movements (Allegro and Hornpipe)
from the Suite in F of c. 1715, and are liberally and attractively embellished in
appropriate places.
In both accounts the playing is superb. Where
they differ importantly is in weight: whilst it was reported that about 50 musicians were
employed in Handel's original performance, Gardiner settles for 42 and Koopman for a mere
20 (with no timpani), "for acoustic reasons". Koopman's is thus a chamber
performance, aimed at presenting the music with clarity, and with an acoustic that makes
no effort to re-create the spaciousness of the 'great outdoors' in the F and D major
Suites. The two versions are complementary rather than competitive, both worthy of a place
on the shelves of the discerning Handel Kenner. If, however, you insist on having a
coupling with the Fireworks Music I recommend the recording under Jordi Savall; if
you aren't devoted to period instruments, then those by the Concertgebouw Chamber
Orchestra with Preston or the Consort of London with Haydon Clark will serve you well
enough.
JD