Concerto grosso in B-flat Major Op. 3, No. 1 (HWV 312)
Concerto grosso in B-flat Major Op. 3, No. 2 (HWV 313)
Concerto grosso in G Major Op. 3, No. 3 (HWV 314)
Concerto grosso in F Major Op. 3, No. 4 (HWV 315)
Concerto grosso in D Minor Op. 3, No. 5 (HWV 316)
Concerto grosso in D Major, Op. 3, No. 6 (HWV 317)

FINISHING TOUCH OF A CONCERTI GROSSI TRILOGY

The Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin complete their Handel trilogy with this recording of the Op. 3 concerti grossi. Even if this selection of concertos was most likely compiled by Handel’s publisher rather than by the composer himself, the overall quality and colourful nature of the music contained do make it a powerful “opus”. With their historically-informed and lively playing, the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin and concertmaster Georg Kallweit demonstrate why many consider them the best baroque ensemble of today.

The ensemble’s first PENTATONE album, Cantata (2018) with countertenor Bejun Mehta, won a Diapason d’or. Their 2019 recording of the first six Op. 6 concerti grossi was hailed as “immaculately played … free of fashionable eccentricities” by The Sunday Times, while Klassik praised the ensemble’s playing as “eloquent”. Their following release with the remainder of the Op. 6 concertos (2020) was singled out by Music Web International for its unprecedented “lightness” and “brightness”.

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This album was recorded at the Nikodemuskirche, Berlin, in May 2019.