Can ANYONE listen to Handel's music for more than…?

[3rd Viennese School]

Not sure that I sympathise with Handel after accidently putting my Radio onto Classic FM and having to endure all 55 suites of Water Music And Music for the Royal Fireworks for his Majesty's fagbutts.

3VS

[Ferretfancy]

I once asked an assistant in HMV why there were so many recordings of Handel operas. He said that the music presented challenges to the performers without presenting any challenge to the listeners. Perhaps a kernel of truth there?

[doversoul]

For those who can, CD Review today (11th) 9.05am

Handel’s Memories - A selection from Grand Concertos op. 6
Al Ayre Español, Eduardo López Banzo (conductor, harpsichord),

HANDEL: Theodora, HWV 68
Frode Olsen (Valens), David Daniels (Didymus), Richard Croft (Septimius), Dawn Upshaw (Theodora), Lorraine Hunt (Irene), Michael Hart-Davis (Messenger), Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, The Glyndebourne Chorus, William Christie (conductor, continuo)

HANDEL: Alcina, HWV34
Various artists, including Bernarda Fink, Namur Chamber Choir, La Grande Ecurie du Roy, Jean-Claude Malgloire (conductor)

HANDEL: Ode for St Cecilia's Day, HWV76
Mary Bevan (soprano) Ed Lyon (tenor), Ludus Baroque, Richard Neville-Towle (conductor)

[aeolium]

Wonderful extracts from Theodora, especially Lorraine Hunt's singing of 'As with rosy steps the morn'.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Wonderful extracts from Theodora, especially Lorraine Hunt's singing of 'As with rosy steps the morn'.

... with Music of this quality, the "kernal of truth" Ferret suggests is that someone with such poor Musical judgement one can only expect the heights of his* Musical career to reach that of shop assistant in an HMV store?

* = I bet it was a chap, wasn't it Ff?

[David-G]

When I first saw Theodora at Glyndebourne in 1996, I thought Lorraine Hunt singing "As with rosy steps the morn" with the OAE was perhaps the most beautiful thing I had ever heard. I still do.