Handel orchestral favourites from the 1950s in a winning combination of old-school polish and unaffected stylistic refinement. With this and several other albums, Eloquence celebrates the art of Thurston Dart, the harpsichordist, conductor and editor who played a leading role in the early-music revival in postwar Britain.
After his death in 1971 at the age of just 49, his fellow harpsichordist Igor Kipnis paid fulsome tribute to ‘a man of many parts’, whose 1954 volume on The Interpretation of Music had attained testamentary authority among his fellow musicians, matched by the skill, style and flourish of his many recordings: ‘He was the ideal musicologist-performer.’ Kipnis singled out this 1959 L’Oiseau-Lyre recording of the Water Music as a classic. Alongside the legendary winds-only account of the Fireworks Music led by Sir Charles Mackerras it was chosen by Stereo Review in 1964 as a defining album in a general introduction to Baroque culture: ‘I cannot think of two other Baroque recordings that I could recommend more unreservedly.’ Dart and his colleague Brian Priestman attempted to reassemble the whole of the Water Music as it had first been heard, on a fine summer’s evening in 1717, played on barges sailing down the Thames.
In his own booklet notes, reprinted in this Eloquence reissue, Dart explained that the LP format had necessitated the omission of some repeats in the music, but that ‘the orchestration on this disc is Handel’s throughout – he was one of the most skilful orchestrators of the 18th century, and may be presumed to have understood what he was doing’.
The couplings are drawn from a pair of Decca albums: overtures directed by Boyd Neel (in 1954) and George Szell (in 1961) with a chaste restraint and lively rhythmic precision that complements the extrovert fantasy of Dart’s performing instincts. Added are two of the Mozart Epistle Sonatas recorded in 1956.
‘The Overtures to Alcina and Berenice are played by the Boyd Neel group with the freshness and hearty gusto typical of that group.’ – High Fidelity, September 1956
These starkly contrasting Handel performances range from Thurston Dart’s historically-informed, exuberant and fleet-footed Water Music to George Szell’s beefed-up romantic approach with the LSO. –BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE
Handel: Alcina – Overture – NEEL
Handel: Berenice Overture – NEEL
Handel: Largo from Xerxes (instrumental arrangement) – SZELL
Handel: Water Music Suite No. 1 in F major, HWV348 – DART
Handel: Water Music Suite No. 2 in D major, HWV349 – DART
Handel: Water Music Suite No. 3 in G major, HWV350 – DART
Mozart: Church (Epistle) Sonata No. 10 in F major for organ & strings, K244 – DART
Mozart: Church (Epistle) Sonata No. 13 in G major for organ & strings, K274 – DART
Fast Delivery and professional packaging
Our long-standing relationships with UPS FedEx DHL and other international carriers gives us the ability to provide various shipping options. Our warehouse personnel is highly-skilled and will package your items according to our precise and exact specifications. Prior to shipping, your goods will be thoroughly examined and secured. We ship to hundreds of thousands of customers each day in different countries. This shows our commitment to becoming the biggest retailer online in the world. Warehouses and distribution centers can be found in Europe and the USA.
Note: Orders that contain more than one item will be assigned a separate processing period for each item.
Prior to shipment, we will examine thoroughly the items you've purchased. The majority of orders are shipped within 48 hours. The delivery time will be between 3-7 days.
Returns
We are not able to manage the stock in our warehouse and factory. The actual inventory may fluctuate at any time. It's possible that the stock may run out after the order has been made.
Our policy is valid for 30 days. If 30 days have gone by since your purchase and we are unable to offer an exchange or refund.
The item cannot be used and in its original condition. The item must be returned in its original packaging.
Related products
