The Avsion Ensemble - Handel: Concerti Grossi Opus 6 - The Herald Scotland

For 20 years now I've been standing on the sidelines, observing the phenomenal growth of interest in Handel's operas, along with developments in festivals through musicians such as Nicholas McGegan, a cult figure in Handel circles. From those sidelines, the occasional forlorn bleat could be heard: But what about the orchestral music? There has always been the odd recording, but here is a very special, brilliant, three-disc set of the opus 6 Concerti Grossi, which is just bursting with vigour, wit, style, refinement and some juicily characterful playing from Pavlo Beznosiuk's superlative Avison Ensemble. The 12 concertos, which were written in a single burst of energy, are multi-movement pieces with many sections running at under two minutes. Fast movements go like the wind, some fleet, others meaty; slow movements are wonderfully expressive in Beznosiuk's hands. I know that the concertos are masterpieces of the species; but here, with the Avisons at strength, they actually sound like true masterpieces. It's another triumph for Linn producer Philip Hobbs.