HANDEL

Concerti Grossi, Op. 6

Combattimento Consort Amsterdam / Jan Willem de Vriend

Disc1

Concerto grosso op. 6 No. 1 in G major HWV 319

1. I. A tempo giusto

2. II. Allegro

3. III. Adagio

4. IV. Allegro

5. V. Allegro

Concerto grosso op. 6 No. 2 in F major HWV 320

6. I. Andante larghetto

7. II. Allegro

8. III. Largo

9. IV. Allegro, ma non troppo

Concerto grosso op. 6 No. 3 in e minor HWV 321

10. I. Larghetto

11. II. Andante

12. III. Allegro

13. IV. Polonaise: Andante

14. V. Allegro, ma non troppo

Concerto grosso op. 6 No. 4 in a minor HWV 322

15. I. Largo affettuoso

16. II. Allegro

17. III. Largo e piano

18. IV. Allegro

Disc 2:

Concerto grosso op. 6 No. 5 in D major HWV323

1. I. [Larghetto e staccato]

2. II. Allegro

3. III. Presto

4. IV. Largo

5. V. Allegro

6. VI. Menuet: Un poco larghetto

Concerto grosso op. 6 No. 6 in g minor HWV 324

7. I. Larghetto affettuoso

8. II. A tempo giusto

9. III. Musette: Larghetto

10. IV. Allegro

11. V. Allegro

Concerto grosso op. 6 No. 7 in B-fl at major HWV 325

12. I. Largo

13. II. Allegro

14. III. Largo

15. IV. Andante

16. V. Hornpipe

Concerto grosso op. 6 No. 8 in c minor HWV 326

17. I. Allemande

18. II. Grave

19. III. Andante allegro

20. IV. Adagio

21. V. Siciliana: Andante

22. VI. Allegro

Disc 3:

Concerto grosso op. 6 No. 9 in F major HWV 327

1. I. Largo

2. II. Allegro

3. III. Larghetto

4. IV. Allegro

5. V. Menuet

6. VI. Gigue: Allegro

Concerto grosso op. 6 No. 10 in d minor HWV 328

7. I. Ouverture - Allegro - Lentement

8. II. Air: Lentement

9. III. Allegro

10. IV. Allegro

11. V. Allegro moderato

Concerto grosso op. 6 No. 11 in A major HWV 329

12. I. Andante larghetto e staccato

13. II. Allegro

14. III. Largo e staccato

15. IV. Andante

16. V. Allegro

Concerto grosso op. 6 No. 12 in b minor HWV 330

17. I. Largo

18. II. Allegro

19. III. Aria: Larghetto e piano

20. IV. Largo

21. V. Allegro

This triple Hybrid SACD set features all twelve of George Frideric Handel’s Concerti Grossi opus 6. It is performed by one of the most acclaimed period instrument groups on the current musical scene, the Combattimento Consort, Amsterdam under the direction of its founder Jan Willem de Vriend.

The conductor Jan Willem de Vriend’s international profile has leapt recently with a much admired set of Beethoven Symphonies for Challenge (CC72550). Having studied the violin at the conservatories of Amsterdam and Den Haag, de Vriend went on to found the Combattimento Consort Amsterdam in 1982. In his capacity as violinist and artistic director of this ensemble he has conducted numerous concerts and opera productions both in the Netherlands and abroad. The Consort’s repertoire concentrates on the period 1600-1800, not only familiar works but also lesser-known masterpieces, which are often only available in manuscript form. In 2007 they presented Arminio, Biber’s only surviving opera. Over the years, they have developed a distinctive style of playing, which has even come to be known as the “Combattimento School” of performance.

The creative riches of structure and the broad diversity of styles that Handel exhibits in the 12 Concerti Grossi opus 6, HWV319-330, has led to them being considered alongside Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos as one of the great monuments of Baroque instrumental music. First published in London in 1739, they take the works of Arcangelo Corelli as models, and are scored for a concertino trio of two violins and cello, alongside a four-part string orchestra and harpsichord continuo.

Challenge Classics 3SACDs CC72570