Looking at the cover of the ABC Classics album depicting a platform diver, the Op. 6 Concerti Grossi of Handel may be the furthest thing from your mind. Harpsichordist and director of the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra Paul Dyer explains this choice as an "invitation to immerse yourself in the beauty of Handel's Concerti Grossi." Cheesy analogies aside, the performances contained within the album itself are indeed quite inviting. Written originally as entr'acte pieces for his popular oratorios, these are masterpieces ...
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Looking at the cover of the ABC Classics album depicting a platform diver, the Op. 6 Concerti Grossi of Handel may be the furthest thing from your mind. Harpsichordist and director of the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra Paul Dyer explains this choice as an "invitation to immerse yourself in the beauty of Handel's Concerti Grossi." Cheesy analogies aside, the performances contained within the album itself are indeed quite inviting. Written originally as entr'acte pieces for his popular oratorios, these are masterpieces perfectly capable of standing on their own in performance. The influence off Corelli and his set of Op. 6 Concertos is clear, yet Handel's contributions show the clear, individualistic voice of the mature, seasoned composer. Dyer and his orchestra perform these jewels on period instruments, but (fortunately) do not treat them as dusty, fragile pieces of music. Their playing is extremely vigorous, pushing instruments, tempos, and dynamics to the extreme without ever crossing the line into...
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