Water Musick

En 1715, le roi George Ier organisa pour sa Cour un divertissement sur la Tamise. C'est pour cette occasion que Haendel composa la Water Musick, son oeuvre la plus populaire aujourd'hui. Cette représentation musicale de tous les aspects de la vie dans l'Angleterre d'alors incarna bientôt la quintessence du goût et de l'esprit britannique. Pas étonnant que ce florilège, destiné avant tout à plaire, ait scellé la réconciliation du compositeur avec son roi !Ce titre est paru pour la première fois en 1988. Amazon.ca Nicholas McGegan's period-instrument account of the complete Water Music is informed, vibrant, and brilliantly recorded--a wonderful argument for authenticity. As an interpretation it ranks second to none, conveying the dances in a spritely, vivacious manner. The ensemble, consisting mostly of American players, is not quite as brilliant as the London bands that have dominated the period scene until recently. But while there are moments where the execution is just a bit under par (the oboes, for example, get a little scrappy in places), there can scarcely be any complaints about Lowell Greer's superb work as first horn. Listening to the disc is like sitting in on a performance; the experience is one of music from start to finish. The recording is intimate, a bit dry but with just enough ambience to give life to the sound, and very clear. --Ted Libbey --This text refers to an alternate audioCD edition