Opus 1 Label

Opus was formed in 1973 and the original line-up included the founder and organist Miodrag Okrugic, guitar player Miodrag Kostic and bassist Dusan Cucuz (later in Tako), but soon they split. They were named after Okrugic's composition "Opus No. 1" which he scored during his tenure with the band Yu Grupa. Okrugic re-formed Opus in 1975 with bassist Slobodan Orlic, drummer Ljubomir Jerkovic and singer Dusan Prelevic (ex Korni Grupa/Kornelyans) and soon they recorded their debut "Opus 1", done in the symphonic rock style. It failed to draw attention of the public and the band split again. In various incarnations guitar players in this period were Ljubo Sedlar, Zoran Dasic and Vidoja Bozinovic. The final line-up from 1977 re-formation included Okrugic, Orlic, drummer Zelimir Vasic and guitar player Milan Matic, but after fruitless attempts they finally disbanded for good. In addition to their only LP album, they recorded three singles from 1974-77.

The twenty sonatas on this recording show Handel writing for the professional musicians of his London opera orchestra; they demand considerable skill and stamina both from the soloist and the continuo. Prominent bass parts give the sonatas a contrapuntal strength and vitality, and Handel keeps the elements of display and purely musical argument in admirable balance in these works. For this reason, they are among the most attractive Baroque solo sonatas and deserve their lasting popularity.