A masterpiece of elegance and invention Considered among the finest examples of Baroque orchestral music, Handel’s Concerti Grossi, Op.6, completed in 1739 over a mere four weeks, surpass the work of other outstanding composers of the form, such as Vivaldi, Scarlatti, and Corelli. Conceived as a grand cycle rather than as individual compositions, these 12 pieces demonstrate Handel’s facility blending a variety of styles and devices with seemingly endless melodic beauty. Andrew Manze leads The Academy of Ancient Music in a vivid and vibrant performance.

Track Listing
CD 1
1 Concerto Grosso no.5 in D major, HWV 323 Ré majeur / D-dur George Frideric Handel 14:09
1 [no marking] 1:39
2 Allegro 1:58
3 Presto 3:04
4 Largo 2:04
5 Allegro 2:19
6 Menuet 3:04
7 Concerto Grosso no.1 in G major, HWV 319 Sol majeur / G-dur George Frideric Handel 11:07
7 A tempo giusto 1:43
8 Allegro 1:37
9 Adagio 2:34
10 Allegro 2:27
11 Allegro 2:47
12 Concerto Grosso no.2 in F major, HWV 320 Fa majeur / F-dur George Frideric Handel 11:09
12 Andante larghetto 4:01
13 Allegro 2:28
14 Largo 2:19
15 Allegro, ma non troppo 2:20
16 Concerto Grosso no.3 in E minor, HWV 321 mi mineur / e-moll George Frideric Handel 12:32
16 Larghetto 1:18
17 Andante 2:05
18 Allegro 2:25
19 Polonaise 4:40
20 Allegro, ma non troppo 1:24
21 Concerto Grosso no.10 in D minor, HWV 328 ré mineur / d-moll George Frideric Handel 15:29
21 Ouverture 1:53
22 Allegro 2:10
23 Lento 3:34
24 Allegro 2:06
25 Allegro 2:53
26 Allegro moderato 2:13
27 Concerto Grosso no.11 in A major, HWV 329 La majeur / A-dur George Frideric Handel 16:01
27 Andante larghetto, e staccato 4:14
28 Allegro 1:34
29 Largo, et staccato :32
30 Andante 4:11
31 Allegro 5:30

CD 2
1 Concerto Grosso no.7 in B-flat major, HWV 325 Si bémol majeur / B-dur George Frideric Handel 13:30
1 Largo 1:07
2 Allegro 2:41
3 Largo, e piano 2:50
4 Andante 3:57
5 Hornpipe 2:54
6 Concerto Grosso no.6 in G minor, HWV 324 sol mineur / g-moll George Frideric Handel 15:05
6 Larghetto e affettuoso 3:16
7 Allegro, ma non troppo 1:36
8 Musette 4:47
9 Allegro 2:51
10 Allegro 2:34
11 Concerto Grosso no.4 in A minor, HWV 322 la mineur / a-moll George Frideric Handel 10:57
11 Larghetto affettuoso 2:33
12 Allegro 2:53
13 Largo, e piano 2:13
14 Allegro 2:38
15 Concerto Grosso no.9 in F major, HWV 327 Fa majeur / F-dur George Frideric Handel 13:08
15 Largo 1:20
16 Allegro 3:18
17 Larghetto 3:11
18 Allegro 1:58
19 Menuet 1:33
20 Gigue 1:47
21 Concerto Grosso no.8 in C minor, HWV 326 ut mineur / c-moll George Frideric Handel 14:13
21 Allemande 5:39
22 Grave 1:23
23 Andante allegro 2:00
24 Adagio 1:02
25 Siciliana 2:51
26 Allegro 1:16
27 Concerto Grosso no.12 in B minor, HWV 330 si mineur / h-moll 11:12
27 Largo 1:46
28 Allegro 2:49
29 Larghetto, e piano 3:38
30 Largo :50
31 Allegro 2:10