Newbie needs Handel`s Water Music

Cheers I'm trying to build a basic collection but I'm having trouble deciding on which Handel's Water music to go for. Need help!

Kenneth Ramstad

Anyhow, you need the Boulez first, so you can tell what all those other folks are trying to do.

Trevor Pinnock should do nicely.

I'll probably ruin what little reputation I have left by saying that my favorite is the Stokowski arrangement of Suite No. 2 on a CD of 'Stokowski's Symphonic Baroque' conducted by Mathias Bamert:
http://www.mymusic.com/product_classical.asp?curr=0& muzenbr=434347

Dave Cook

As Matt said, Pinnock is good. Get the 'Panorama' 2CD set, which includes Fireworks music, the harp concerto, and some concerto grossi. I also really like Gardiner's, but some people don't...

Anyway, if you were making a joke, never mind, but if Boulez has in fact recorded Water Music, I'd like to hear it (and no, that's not a joke).

No joke; it was an enjoyable record. It must have been done around 1973, because I remember it was one of Columbia Records' quadrophonic releases.

He's recorded it twice. First with a French orchestra (perhaps the Conservatoire? I'm not where my disk is) in the mid 60s, which appeared on a Nonesuch LP and later on an Adés CD in very dull sound. Later with the NY Phil, which I have only seen on CD in the long-deleted Great Performances series. Both performances are lucid and clear, as you would expect; the later one is certainly better played and recorded.

Tony Movshon

Brilliant Classics' big Marriner box is very cheap with various Concerti Grossi. Have only listened to some of the Concerti Grossi - sounds OK.

I have the performance with the NYPO, on LP (and CDR now), coupled with the Royal Fireworks Music. Good sound, good playing, good stuff.

If you like period instruments, I would probably pick Savall's first, both for its own merits and because it's coupled with a superb performance of the Royal Fireworks Music (and mid-price to boot). This may not matter to you, but unlike some period instrument recordings such as Pinnock's (and, if memory serves, all modern instrument recordings) Savall has timpani playing along with the brass instruments in the D Major Suite. If you want modern instruments, Marriner's first recording on Argo/Decca or Leppard/Philips.