Georg Friedrich Händel - Trio Sonatas op.2 & op.5 - R. Egarr, The Academy of Ancient Music

The performances are nothing less than superb: they bring back the memories of the great series of recordings made with Pinnock and Hogwood from the 1970's and 80's, and it can be easily seen why the Academy has been the recipient of much praise and awards. These performers have reached a level of performance that clearly places them amongst the top rankings to be found anywhere. But the recordings, too, made by Harmonia Mundi, are also superb. The sonics are excellent, with large dynamic range, imperceptible noise levels, and fantastic balance of the various pieces.

Georg Friedrich Händel (23 February 1685–14 April 1759)

CD1 • Opus n.2
"Six sonates à deux violons, deux hatbois
ou deux flutes traversieres & basse continue"
Sonata I in B minor, HWV 386
1 Andante, Adagio (3'42)
2 Allegro ma non troppo (2'47)
3 Largo (2'46)
4 Allegro (2'08)

Sonata II in G minor, HWV 387
5 Andante (3'25)
6 Allegro (1'21)
7 Largo (3'11)
8 Allegro (1'23)

Sonata III in B-flat major, HWV 388
9 Andante, Adagio (2'28)
10 Allegro (2'35)
11 Larghetto, Adagio (3'34)
12 Allegro (3'24)

Sonata IV in F major, HWV 389
13 Larghetto (2'21)
14 Allegro (2'54)
15 Adagio (2'14)
16 Allegro, Adagio (2'10)
17 Adagio (2'22)

Sonata V in G minor, HWV 390
18 Larghetto, Adagio. (2'41)
19 Allegro (2'58)
20 Adagio (1'59)
21 Allegro (3'23)

Sonata VI in G minor, HWV 391
22 Andante (2'12)
23 Allegro (2'09)
24 Arioso (2'44)
25 Allegro (1'54)


CD2 - Opus n.5
"Seven sonates or trio for two violins or German flutes
with a thorough bass for the harpsichord or violoncello"
Sonata I in A major, HWV 396
1 Andante, Adagio (2'17)
2 Allegro, Adagio (1'40)
3 Larghetto (0'56)
4 Allegro (2'16)
5 Gavotte, Allegro (l'05)

Sonata II in D major, HWV 397
6 Adagio (0'59)
7 Allegro, Adagio (1'43)
8 Musette, Andante, Allegro, Musette, Andante (4'14)
9 Marche (1'33)
10 Gavotte, Allegro (0'33)

Sonata III in E minor, HWV 398
11 Andante, Larghetto, Adagio e piano (2'22)
12 Allegro (1'19)
13 Sarabande, Largo assai (2'41)
14 Allemande, Andante, Allegro (l'10)
15 Rondeau (1'25)
16 Gavotte, Allegro (1'24)

Sonata IV in G major, HWV 399
17 Allegro (2'16)
18 A Tempo Ordinario, Adagio (4'02)
19 Passacaille (4'44)
20 Gigue, Presto (1'05)
21 Minuet, Allegro Moderato (1'54)

Sonata V in G minor, HWV 400
22 Largo, Adagio (2'39)
23 Come alla breve, Adagio (3'00)
24 Larghetto, Adagio (0'58)
25 A tempo Giusto, Adagio (2'24)
26 Air, Andante, Allegro (2'22)
27 Bourre (0'53)

Sonata VI in F major, HWV 401
28 Largo, Adagio (2'28)
29 Allegro, Adagio (2'02)
30 Adagio (2'29)
31 Allegro (2'46)
32 Minuet, Allegro Moderato (2'10)

Sonata VII in B-flat major, HWV 402
33 Larghetto, Adagio (2'40)
34 Allegro ma non presto, Adagio, Adagio (2'32)
35 Allegro, Adagio (1'34)
36 Gavotte, Allegro (1'17)


Total Playing Time: 2h 22'

Pavlo Beznosiuk, Rodolfo Richter, Violin
Rachel Brown, flute & recorder
Joseph Crouch, cello
Richard Egarr, harpsichord & direction