Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields, Iona Brown - Handel: 12 Concerti Grossi Op.6 (1983)

Op 6 is Handel's Cenotaph erected in one busy October year 1739. It was a real wonder work after the period of financial and health difficulties. The German composer left his legacy to English string music, to set the high standard of skill and quality of music, personal development of corellian tradition.

When Bach's Brandenbourgs are everywhere, Concerto grossi by Handel have proved not to be so popular by general public. For example, Harnoncourt made recordings of both sets: there are 6 reviews for his Bach set in Amazon, none for his Handel op 6 set. Perhaps concerto grossi are more musik fur kenner.

When young, person is prone to mistakes. My early days mistake was to buy a set containing op 6 under Trevor Pinnock's direction. Listening it, I grew up appreciating this music - no more. Iona Brown's later set opened my ears to this music.

What have I today placed on plate is Iona Brown's first set recorded for Philips 1981, thus early digital. It must be the first complete set in cd format, or Harnoncourt. What is more important, here is the op 6 to make one appreciate, enjoy and love this music. The strings sound like they should - not like the meeting of particularly angry bees. There is vividness of playing of the later Brown set, but the earlier one is somewhat relaxed - pressure is not added in every corner. There is quite considerable playing time difference between the Philips and the Hänssler set. The tempos of the early set are generally slower, but in concluding movements the early set can be very brisk as well. The ace from the sleeve is the sensuality of the early set, it is mellow, round, but does not lack attack and torque when needed.

There is so much to enjoy here, that I guess you cannot afterwards listen Pinnock's op 6 any more or have any drop of soup served by Maestro Karajan - it is negatively endless reading. If you like to have your op 6 limited to one recording of one concerto take Furtwängler and his apocalyptic reading of op 6 no 10 from 1944. That is not about string playing and fine knacks, but rather sort of summary of the latest developments in the german culture. But I recommend you to grab and taste the whole op 6 - any set by the incomparable Iona Brown.