WATER MUSIC & FIREWORKS Georg Friedrich Haendel
Le Concert SpirituelHervé Niquet
GCDSA 921616
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GEORG FRIEDRICH HAENDEL (1685-1759)
Water Music & Fireworks
1-9 WATER MUSIC. SUITE I (HWV 348) Ouverture & Adagio - Allegro - Andante - Allegro Da Capo - Presto - Air - Menuet - Bourrée & Hornpipe - Air 10-14 WATER MUSIC. SUITE II (HWV 349) Prélude - Alla Hornpipe - Menuet - Lentement - Bourrée 15-18 WATER MUSIC. SUITE III (HWV 350) Sarabande - Rigaudons - Menuets - Gigues 19-24 MUSIC FOR THE ROYAL FIREWORKS (HWV 351)Ouverture. Adagio - Ouverture. Allegro -Bourrée - La Paix - La Réjouissance - Menuets 25 JOYEUX ANNIVERSAIRE (bonus track)
About this CD
"After half a century of musicological, organological and scientific investigation, the different guidelines we use for interpreting the Baroque repertoire have become very precise. If so, why are we still suspicious of the results of these investigations? It has been the intention of the hundred (!!!) musicians gathered here for the performance of the Water Music and Fireworks suites, in celebration of the 15th anniversary of Le Concert Spirituel, to put into practice, without any concessions, what they know of these early techniques, each one according to his or her field of specialization. [...] The sound is unusual in its colours and its energy; some ears, unaccostumed to meantone temperament, can expect to be surprised. But our queries and intuitions have met with bold answers, transparent and enriching, and that, without a doubt, show respect for thework."(Hervé Niquet)
Five years after the initial release of Handel's Water Music and Fireworks suites in the groundbreaking version from Le Concert Spirituel, we are now issuing the original surround master in a newly-designed digipakedition. Listening to a period instrument orchestra (made up of over one hundred players) with historically-informed tuning and with the full energy and sonic details permitted by the SACD format is an experience that no lover of the best baroque music should miss...
Hervé Niquet is far less interested in being known as a Baroque music specialist than for his passionate interest in all of French music, especially its vocal and lyrical compositions and nowadays he is as liable to be found directing a symphony orchestra as his own period instrument ensemble Le Concert Spirituel. It may come, for some, as a surprise to find Niquet teaming up with the Brussels Philharmonic to record Debussy but this future release will mark the inauguration of a new adventure for Niquet and Glossa focusing on the music associated with the Prix de Rome competition which drew in scores of leading French composers all the way from 1803 through 1968. [read more...]
Taking a leading role in the revival of tragédies lyriques (or tragédies en musique), the best of the French Baroque opera tradition, is a long, daunting (and expensive) challenge but one which Hervé Niquet has been keen to accept. Present as a singer in the chorus of Les Arts Florissants in 1987 when William Christie put on Lully’s Atys, Niquet formed his own ensemble, Le Concert Spirituel that same year. Since that time he has balanced his own endeavours to stage (and record) key French tragédies with his other musical interests, which extend from Monteverdi to Purcell and Handel (soon to be reissued – now on SACD – is Niquet’s recording of the Fireworks and Water Music suites) right the way through to later composers such as Schumann, Gounod and d’Indy.[read more...]