Description
"Full of the most delicious music you could ask to hear, and the players give every indication of loving every note they play" was how one enthusiastic reviewer described the first volume of aria arrangements on SOMM, of "Handel at Hom" (SOMMCD 055) with the London Handel Players in Pan Magazine.Indeed, it is an attestatio of Handel's power to speak to the very depths of one's soul, to touch the heart and to rouse the spirit that after many years performing the repertoire, the London Handel Players present here "Handel at Home" Vol 2. A second selection of popular operatic arias either in contemporary settings or their own arrangements inspired by the original luscious scoring. In the 18th century, the demand for such arrangements was high, since they provided a gratifying means of revisiting theatrical highlightsin the domestic environment. Handel's publisher, John Walsh, made numerous arrangements of various overtures nad Handel himself may well have reworked the solo keyborard versio/rendition of Ombra cara from Radamisto. Babell's florid embellishment of the v er-popular Lascia ch'io pianga from Rinaldo demonstrates a free interpretation adorned with extravant Italianate ornamentation. The beasutiful rendition of the Overture to Samson for solo flute with continuo is taken from Walsh's extensive publication and LHP have reinstated the string accompaniment in Total Eclipse and thus when the Sun for added drama. The lyrical arias from Rinaldo, Giulio Cesare and The Choice of Hercules proved irresistible and they made their own arrangements!
