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Track(s) taken from CDA67291/2

Organ Concerto in B flat major, Op 4 No 2

composer
George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)

Paul Nicholson (organ), The Brandenburg Consort, Roy Goodman (conductor)
Recording details: June 1996
St Lawrence, Whitchurch, London, United Kingdom
Produced by Andrew Keener & Oliver Rivers
Engineered by Tony Faulkner
Release date: November 1997
Total duration: 9 minutes 19 seconds
 

Other recordings available for download

Daniel Moult (organ)

Reviews

‘Highly recommended, not least for a glorious rendition of the Harp Concerto and the novelty of the briefest contribution of Clare College Choir in an Alleluia finale’ (BBC Music Magazine)

‘The abiding impression is one of irrepressible tunefulness and joie de vivre … the instrument's special delight is the sweetness and delicacy of its flute stops … here and elsewhere Nicholson plays with zest and virtuoso flair. The Brandenburg Consort match him in style and élan, while Frances Kelly is a graceful soloist’ (The Daily Telegraph)

‘The great coup of this new recording … is to have secured the instrument on which the composer played. Nicholson's playing is unfailingly stylish’ (The Times)

‘Superbly played’ (Organists' Review)

‘Paul Nicholson's performances are musical, polished and wonderfully played and enjoyable to hear’ (Cathedral Music)

‘Incandescent music-making. Mr Nicholson, the fieriest of virtuosos, makes us remember that Handel, who wrote these pieces for himself, was an organist of legendary prowess. The Brandenburg Consort's luminous strings play with particular point and charm, thanks to Mr Goodman’ (The Dallas Morning News)
James Worgan (1715-1753) and Thomas Gladwin (c1710-1799) were both organists at Vauxhall during the 1730s and John Worgan (1724-1790) succeeded his brother as organist in 1751, as well as being director of the music for a year and an ‘in house’ composer. Both Worgan brothers were responsible for making the organ an indispensable part of Vauxhall’s music, and combined with the band, it typified the sound of the pleasure gardens from 1737 onwards. Handel and the Worgan brothers were all accomplished improvisers and keyboard players and Handel is widely attributed as remarking about John Worgan. ‘…he plays my music very well at Vauxhall’. Organ concertos were very much a part of an evening concert. Handel’s organ concertos Op 4, HWV289–294, refer to the six organ concertos for chamber organ and orchestra composed by Handel in London between 1735 and 1736 and published in 1738 by John Walsh.

from notes by Bridget Cunningham © 2015

Other albums featuring this work

Handel: Handel at Vauxhall, Vol. 1
London Early Opera, Bridget Cunningham (conductor)
Studio Master: SIGCD428Download onlyStudio Master FLAC & ALAC downloads available

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