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Handel Concerti Grossi - The Avison Ensemble - MusicWeb International


02 July 2010
MusicWeb International
Brian Wilson

I downloaded this just as I was about to close this Roundup, so I have had time to hear it all through just once, though I have listened to some of the concertos several times. I am very impressed - this could well become my benchmark in future for this wonderful music, alongside, or even replacing Hogwood (Decca, now Avie), Standage (Chandos) and Pinnock (DG): everything seems so right and appropriate in scale that I'm going to choose it as my last-minute Download of the Month. It may seem odd to single out the continuo, but even that seems to be exactly in proportion - just audible but not obtrusive - and imaginative, with organ (not credited) and a copy of a 1745 harpsichord. The price is right, too, ranging from £13 for mp3 to £25 for the 24-bit Studio Master. Make sure that your player will accept 24/88.2 downloads if you are planning to go for the latter: otherwise, the ‘ordinary' CD-quality WMA sounds excellent.
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Pavlo BeznosiukPavlo Beznosiuk
The Avison EnsembleThe Avison Ensemble
Handel Concerti Grossi Opus 6Handel Concerti Grossi Opus 6