12 Solo Sonatas Op.1 : Egarr, P.Beznosiuk, R.Brown, De Brione, Academy of Ancient Music (2CD)

Handel: 12 Solo Sonatas, Op. 1

Sonata in E minor for flute and continuo, HWV359b, Op. 1 No. 1b
Sonata in G minor for recorder and continuo, HWV360, Op. 1 No. 2
Sonata in A Major for violin and continuo, HWV361, Op. 1 No. 3
Sonata in A minor for recorder and continuo, HWV362, Op. 1 No. 4
Sonata in G major for flute and continuo, HWV363b, Op 1 No 5
Sonata in G minor for violin or oboe and continuo, HWV364a, Op. 1 No. 6
Sonata in C major for recorder and continuo, HWV365, Op. 1 No. 7
Sonata in C minor for oboe and continuo, HWV366, Op. 1 No. 8
Flute Sonata in B minor, Op 1 No 9b, HWV367b
Sonata in G minor for violin and continuo, HWV368, Op. 1 No. 10
Sonata in F major for recorder and continuo, HWV369, Op. 1 No. 11
Sonata in F major for violin and continuo, HWV370, Op. 1 No. 12
Sonata in A major for violin and continuo, HWV372, Op. 1 No. 14
Oboe Sonata in F major (manuscript) 'Haub: Solo del Sr. Hendel'
Sonata in E major for violin and continuo, HWV373, Op. 1 No. 15

Richard Egarr (harpsichord & direction)
Pavlo Beznosiuk (violin)
Rachel Brown (flute & recorder)
Frank de Brione (oboe)
The Academy of Ancient Music

Recorded 09/2007

With its varied scoring and its exploration of instrumental combinations sometimes reminiscent of the Brandenburg Concertos, this set of 12 sonatas has nothing of an opus 1 about it, whatever the title page says! On the contrary, it is the work of a mature Handel in full command of his compositional resources. ( harmonia mundi )