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Because of advances in the field of Baroque performance practice and because there are so many excellent recordings of Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks available, played with vim and vigor by many outstanding period specialists, why would anyone want a 1963 analog recording of this work, played in a slow, stodgy, reverential manner reminiscent of late Romantic interpretations? Apparently Hungaraton thinks there is enough life left in this murky recording by György Lehel and the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra to give it one more go-round in its Echo Collection, but don't be deceived into thinking it is worth even the budget price. Lehel's tempos are quite sluggish in the Overture (which, with repeats, is drawn out to an amazing 12'25"), and this unduly solemn movement is followed by listless playing in the Bourrée, "La Paix," and the "Menuets"; only "La Rejouissance," the only true Allegro in this performance, has any kick. This nearly funereal reading of Fireworks is followed by overtures and ballet music from Handel's operas, delivered with almost the same somber lethargy by Miklós Erdélyi and the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, though in fairness it must be added that these performances have a little more rhythmic bounce and the benefit of a harpsichord continuo, which is lacking in Lehel's performance. Still, this album has so little life and the sound is so inferior, even by standards of the early '60s, one should look elsewhere for historically informed and far more interesting performances of Handel's music, even at the risk of paying full price, rather than settle for this affordable but dull retread.
© TiVo
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Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - George Frideric Handel, Composer - György Lehel, Conductor
(C) 2014 Hungaroton (P) 2014 Hungaroton
Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - George Frideric Handel, Composer - György Lehel, Conductor
(C) 2014 Hungaroton (P) 2014 Hungaroton
Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - George Frideric Handel, Composer - György Lehel, Conductor
(C) 2014 Hungaroton (P) 2014 Hungaroton
Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - George Frideric Handel, Composer - György Lehel, Conductor
(C) 2014 Hungaroton (P) 2014 Hungaroton
Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - George Frideric Handel, Composer - György Lehel, Conductor
(C) 2014 Hungaroton (P) 2014 Hungaroton
Rodrigo Suite, HWV 5 (Georg Friedrich Händel)
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Miklós Erdélyi, Conductor
(C) 2014 Hungaroton (P) 2014 Hungaroton
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Miklós Erdélyi, Conductor
(C) 2014 Hungaroton (P) 2014 Hungaroton
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Miklós Erdélyi, Conductor
(C) 2014 Hungaroton (P) 2014 Hungaroton
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Miklós Erdélyi, Conductor
(C) 2014 Hungaroton (P) 2014 Hungaroton
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Miklós Erdélyi, Conductor
(C) 2014 Hungaroton (P) 2014 Hungaroton
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Miklós Erdélyi, Conductor
(C) 2014 Hungaroton (P) 2014 Hungaroton
Ariodante, HWV 33 (Georg Friedrich Händel)
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Miklós Erdélyi, Conductor
(C) 2014 Hungaroton (P) 2014 Hungaroton
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Miklós Erdélyi, Conductor
(C) 2014 Hungaroton (P) 2014 Hungaroton
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Miklós Erdélyi, Conductor
(C) 2014 Hungaroton (P) 2014 Hungaroton
Atalanta, HWV 35 (Georg Friedrich Händel)
George Frideric Handel, Composer - Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra, MainArtist - Miklós Erdélyi, Conductor
(C) 2014 Hungaroton (P) 2014 Hungaroton
Album review
Because of advances in the field of Baroque performance practice and because there are so many excellent recordings of Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks available, played with vim and vigor by many outstanding period specialists, why would anyone want a 1963 analog recording of this work, played in a slow, stodgy, reverential manner reminiscent of late Romantic interpretations? Apparently Hungaraton thinks there is enough life left in this murky recording by György Lehel and the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra to give it one more go-round in its Echo Collection, but don't be deceived into thinking it is worth even the budget price. Lehel's tempos are quite sluggish in the Overture (which, with repeats, is drawn out to an amazing 12'25"), and this unduly solemn movement is followed by listless playing in the Bourrée, "La Paix," and the "Menuets"; only "La Rejouissance," the only true Allegro in this performance, has any kick. This nearly funereal reading of Fireworks is followed by overtures and ballet music from Handel's operas, delivered with almost the same somber lethargy by Miklós Erdélyi and the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra, though in fairness it must be added that these performances have a little more rhythmic bounce and the benefit of a harpsichord continuo, which is lacking in Lehel's performance. Still, this album has so little life and the sound is so inferior, even by standards of the early '60s, one should look elsewhere for historically informed and far more interesting performances of Handel's music, even at the risk of paying full price, rather than settle for this affordable but dull retread.
© TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 15 track(s)
- Total length: 00:58:13
- Main artists: Budapest Symphony Orchestra Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra György Lehel Miklós Erdélyi
- Composer: Georg Friedrich Händel
- Label: Hungaroton
- Genre: Classical
(C) 2014 Hungaroton (P) 2014 Hungaroton
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