Handel: 20 Sonatas Op 1

The twenty sonatas on this recording show Handel writing for the professional musicians of his London opera orchestra; they demand considerable skill and stamina both from the soloist and the continuo. Prominent bass parts give the sonatas a contrapuntal strength and vitality, and Handel keeps the elements of display and purely musical argument in admirable balance in these works. For this reason, they are among the most attractive Baroque solo sonatas and deserve their lasting popularity.

CDS44411/3  170 minutes 32 seconds (3 discs)
‘Here is all the 'Op 1' you could ever want, in performances which, in the present state of the art, I cannot see beaten’ (BBC Music Magazine Top 1000 CDs Guide)
‘This set gives authoritative readings, impeccable in style, dependable in text’ (Gramophone)
‘The performances in this attractive set are further distinguished by an interpretive sponaneity that invariably brings the music to life’ (BBC Music Magazine)