Georg Friedrich Handel: Concertos

Ragna Schirmer (fortepiano, piano and Hammond)), Gerard Presencer, Peter Weniger, Geoffroy de Masure, Winfried Holzenkamp Matthias Daneck & Handelfestpielorchester, DaCuore, Bernhard Forck, Andreas Seidel, Stefan Malzew

On her new album, Ragna Schirmer again focusses on the multi?faceted work of Handel. The 3 CDs feature the complete organ concertos of Handel, specially arranged for piano and other instruments.

They differ in their approach to the task of creating arrangements that really fit to the music: On the first CD Ragna plays the concertos Op. 4 on a period fortepiano accompanied by the famous Händel Festspiel Orchester Halle. Her instrument on the second CD, which presents the first works of Op. 7 and the famous "cuckoo and nightingale" concerto, is a modern Steinway. She is playing with ensemble DaCuore which she founded for this project, bringing together some of the most outstanding musicians from Halle, Berlin and Leipzig.

As a very special bonus ? which also serves as a kind of link to the third CD ? CD 2 presents a world?premiere recording of a piece by the French contemporary composer Guillaume Conesson that was commissioned by Ragna especially for this project.

The third CD is perhaps the most exciting and surprising one: Ragna plays a Hammond organ creating a unique rock/jazz style together with a full jazzband.

Connesson:
 Concertino pour Piano

Handel:
 Organ Concerto No. 1 in G minor, HWV289, Op. 4 No. 1
 Organ Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, HWV290, Op. 4 No. 2
 Organ Concerto No. 3 in G minor, HWV291, Op. 4 No. 3
 Organ Concerto No. 4 in F major, HWV292, Op. 4 No. 4
 Organ Concerto No. 5 in F major, HWV293, Op. 4 No. 5
 Organ Concerto No. 6 in B flat major, HWV294, Op. 4 No. 6
 Organ Concerto No. 7 in B flat major, HWV306, Op. 7 No. 1
 Organ Concerto No. 8 in A major, HWV307, Op. 7 No. 2
 Organ Concerto No. 9 in B flat major, HWV308, Op. 7 No. 3
 Organ Concerto No. 10 in D minor, HWV309, Op. 7 No. 4
 Organ Concerto No. 11 in G minor, HWV310, Op. 7 No. 5
 Organ Concerto No. 12 in B flat major, HWV311, Op. 7 No. 6
 Organ Concerto No. 14 in A major, HWV296

"The enjoyment of the players is palpable and I have a feeling that Handel might have raised an amused if quizzical eyebrow at their presumption."
Gramophone Magazine - May 2014