Robert King - Handel: Music for the Royal Fireworks, Four Coronation Anthems (1989)
EAC | FLAC (image+.cue, log) | Covers Included | 56:45 | 289 MB
Genre: Classical | Label: Hyperion | Catalog: CDA66350
Handel at his most jubilant here, hymning the glories of Georgian England in his half-official role as composer laureate: the four anthems written for George II's coronation in 1727 and the Music for the Royal Fireworks that celebrated his victories more than 20 years later. Robert King directs very capable performances using period instruments and, correctly, male voices. He does not use soloists; the requirement is ambiguous here and there is, I think, some justification for supposing that in Westminster Abbey Handel would have used choral forces or at least doubling (as indicated in the first movement of My heart is inditing) for the possible solo passages.