Handel / B'Rock Orchestra - Water & Fire - Import CD

Credits:

Handel / B'Rock Orchestra

Description:

The multi-talented Dmitry Shinkovsky conducts! A spectacular Handel with dancing water and fire by the cutting-edge Beelock Orchestra! The up-and-coming Belgian orchestra, the BeRock Orchestra, which has become one of the signature orchestras of the Pentatone label, has made a splash with its innovative recordings of Schubert's complete symphonies with René Jacobs and is now a multi-talented countertenor, baroque violinist, and conductor. The BeRock Orchestra, one of the signature orchestras of the PENTATONE label, has invited Dmitry Shinkovsky, a multi-talented countertenor, baroque violinist, and conductor, to perform Handel's Festspiele. Both "Music on Water" and "Music for the Royal Fireworks" were intended to be performed in the open air to celebrate the prestige of the British royal family, and are representative of Handel's large scale compositions. Music on the Water" was composed as music for a royal boating excursion, and the 50 or so musicians assembled are said to have performed it on a boat on the River Thames. The King liked Handel's music so much that he had the boats on the river sail back and forth repeatedly. The Royal Fireworks was composed to be played with fireworks during the celebrations marking the Peace of Aachen, which ended the War of the Austrian Succession. Although Handel himself intended it to be performed orchestral, the first performance was given by the king with a large military band of wind instruments only. The rehearsal was a great success, attracting an audience of more than 10,000 people, but on the day of the performance, it was unfortunately raining and the fireworks display was disrupted by a series of problems. Perhaps to make amends, Handel performed the orchestral version as originally envisioned at a concert at an orphanage one month after the premiere. For the recording of these two large-scale works, which were both festive and royal propaganda, the Beethoven orchestra consisted of strings (6-6-5-4-3), winds (4 oboes, 2 bassoons, 1 contrabassoon, 3 horns, and 3 trumpets), 2 lutes, and 2 harpsichords, The bass ensemble consists of two lutes, two harpsichords, and an organ, and also includes timpani and percussion, making for a fairly large ensemble for a Baroque-era work.This is said to be based on the size of the orchestra that Handel employed at the time. Shinkovsky, who often conducts as a soloist or concertmaster, concentrates on conducting here, and brings out the flamboyant sound of festive music from the large be-rock orchestra, creating a powerful performance. The way the brass instruments and the thick strings come together in a powerful performance is a particular highlight of the concert. The performance of Handel on a grand scale, as if water and fire were dancing wildly, will teach you the amazement of the audience at the time of the work's premiere. King International

Tracklisting:

1.Water Music Suite No. 2, HWV 349~I. Allegro
2.Water Music Suite No. 2, HWV 349~II. Alla Hornpipe
3.Water Music Suite No. 2, HWV 349~III. Menuet
4.Water Music Suite No. 2, HWV 349~IV. Rigaudon 1
5.Water Music Suite No. 2, HWV 349~V＞ Rigaudon 2 - IV. Rigaudon 1 da capo
6.Water Music Suite No. 1, HWV 348~I. Overture. Largo - Allegro
7.Water Music Suite No. 1, HWV 348~II. Adagio e staccato
8.Water Music Suite No. 1, HWV 348~III. Allegro
9.Water Music Suite No. 1, HWV 348~IV. Andante - III. Allegro da capo
10.Water Music Suite No. 1, HWV 348~V. Allegro
11.Water Music Suite No. 1, HWV 348~VI. Air
12.Water Music Suite No. 1, HWV 348~VII. Menuet
13.Water Music Suite No. 1, HWV 348~VIII. Bourree
14.Water Music Suite No. 1, HWV 348~IX. Hornpipe
15.Water Music Suite No. 1, HWV 348~X. Allegro moderato
16.Water Music Suite No. 3, HWV 350~I. Lentement
17.Water Music Suite No. 3, HWV 350~II. Bourree
18.Water Music Suite No. 3, HWV 350~III. Menuet 1
19.Water Music Suite No. 3, HWV 350~IV. Menuet 2
20.Water Music Suite No. 3, HWV 350~V. Gigue 1 - VI. Gigue 2
21.Water Music Suite No. 3, HWV 350~VII. Menuet
22.Muisc for the Royal Fireworks, HWV 351~Ia. Overture - Adagio
23.Muisc for the Royal Fireworks, HWV 351~Ib. Allegro - Lentement - Allegro
24.Muisc for the Royal Fireworks, HWV 351~II. Bourree
25.Muisc for the Royal Fireworks, HWV 351~III. La paix. Largo alla Siciliana
26.Muisc for the Royal Fireworks, HWV 351~IV. La Rejouissance
27.Muisc for the Royal Fireworks, HWV 351~VI. Menuet 2
28.Muisc for the Royal Fireworks, HWV 351~V. Menuet 1 - VI. Menuet 2 da capo