Handel - Concerti grossi, op. 6 / AAM · Manze

From the onset of the historical performances movement some years back, listeners have been subjected to a great many historically correct yet musically limp, passive and rudderless performances. So conductor Andrew Manze deserves real credit for the marvelous job he does here with the Academy of Ancient Music in the twelve Concerti Grossi, Opus 6, of George Frideric Handel. With great warmth as well as vigor he lets these felicitous, robust works come to life. What we hear is more color, more meat and more life than we are likely to get from a typical early music ensemble. Manze is a great musician. --Gwendolyn Freed