Handel: Water Music / Teleman: The King's Consort

This disc, well recorded in 1997 by Hyperion, provides and interesting coupling and companion. Both sets of Water Music were written at much the same time with Handel's being slightly earlier. The instrumentation is also similar.Robert King takes a faster view of Handel's music than Pinnock for example. The phrasing is also generally more legato even in such a piece as the 'Adagio e Staccato' second movement. This smoothed out approach to the phrasing has quite an effect upon the dance movements such as the 'menuets' and all the various other dances of which this music is largely composed. The dance element of these various movements is much more sharply defined by Pinnock at his slower but far more rhythmically taut approach. There is a fine Italian group called Zeffiro, also well recorded, who adopt somewhat of a middle course but also include a considerable amount of decoration to the melodic lines that will not be to everyone's taste.The Telemann suite is not included on the Pinnock disc and this is a real bonus for the King set. Telemann's music is well worth hearing and does not have the same issues as regards legato phrasing or a preponderance of effected dance movements. The disc by Zeffiro also includes the Telemann but mixes the music of both Handel and Telemann into a continuous whole. This seems more of a nuisance than a gain to me.I am completely aware that Handel's Water Music was not initially intended to be danced to but the fact remains that he made considerable use of popular dance forms of the day. It seems likely therefore that they should be played in a way that would be easily danceable and recognisable as such to his contemporary audience. Pinnock scores heavily on that issue. As a retired musician who has recently taken up Scottish dancing I have become even more aware of the importance of clearly defined rhythm as an essential aid to dance steps and am therefore aware that King is not helpful in that respect.I would suggest that as a coupling of these two sets of Water Music the present disc by King, which is very well played by his excellent orchestra, is a very serious contender and superior to the more confusing playing order of the otherwise fine Zeffiro disc. If the main focus of attention is on the Handel piece without Telemann's music being a consideration, I would suggest that Pinnock is the stronger bet. That too is very well played and recorded and the re-issued disc includes Pinnock's excellent Fireworks as a possibly even more attractive extra item.

I was aware of Handel's Watermusic, but not of Telemann's. Both appear here on this Hyperion release, and both sound excellent. Hyperion frequently issues recordings of lesser-known Baroque composers, and here Telemann (not known to everyone) has been paired with Handel (who along with Bach and Vivaldi is one of the Baroque period's most recognizable names).Robert King lead's the King's Consort through both pieces with energy and passion. The sound is incredible, as are both performances. The only caveat is the price. Because it's an import, you're going to pay full-price (and then some) for this disc. While Philips and Virgin (as well as a host of other major record labels) offer bargain-priced versions of Handel's Watermusic, I'm not sure which label (other than Hyperion) offers Telemann's Watermusic. Maybe Naxos has issued it (and if so, it would be at a great price). If not, then you might have to pay quite a bit to own both compositions.It's pretty expensive no doubt, but in my opinion well worth the investment. Telemann, although not as well-known as other Baroque composers, was nonetheless a major force, and his Watermusic holds up quite well agains Handel's.

I suppose to those who follow Robert King's enormous recorded output, his musicality is no surprise. However, I don't collect Baroque music, and I flee from the sound of period instruments with their buzzes, clacks, zings, and honks.Curiosity drew me to this recording of Handel's Water Music, a work I never thought I would listen to again, thanks to a surfeit in high school. I soon discovered what I was missing. King's conducting rises high above Gardiner, Parrott, Pinnock, Norrington, and Mackerras--to mention just a few of the HIP stars, in terms of sheer musicality. Everything is phrased beautifully, as if this sublime music isn't a warhorse but a richly expressive masterpiece. I've never heard period instruments sound so sweet, either. All in all, a delightful recording.

This CD is beautifully recorded and is among the top performance recommendations for Handel's ever-popular Water Music. But the great bonus here is Telemann's delightful opus. I have heard an alternative version of Telemann's Water Music, but this present version is way out in front.If you are looking for a very fine version of the Handel, you can do no better than to get this CD which has such a terrific coupling.Full marks.

Die Meriten der Interpretation zu bewerten, möchte ich anderen, Händel-kompetenteren überlassen. Das Ensemble spielt auf jeden Fall tadellos.Was mich vor allem veranlasst, diese Rezension zu schreiben, das ist der außergewöhnliche "Realismus" der Aufnahme. Die Klangbalance insgesamt trifft ins Schwarze, ebenso sind die einzelnen Instrumentalklangfarben vortrefflich eingefangen. (Zumindest, sofern meine Lautsprecher keine zu starke Färbung einfließen lassen - dies kann ich nicht mit letzter Sicherheit einschätzen; sie klingen aber auch mit vielen anderen (guten..?) Aufnahmen gut bis sehr gut.)Ein überzeugender Eindruck räumlicher Tiefe und sauber ausgebreitete/gestaffelte Musiker machen den Klanggenuss perfekt.