Water Music; Music For The Royal Fireworks

These digital recordings from 1983 and 1991 make a fine bargain at mid price. John Eliot Gardiner and his period instrument ensemble produce a lovely, smooth sound in these very well played performances, which use Handel's versions for strings and winds. Balances are fine; playing and recording collaborate to produce a treasurable clarity in which every line registers. For those who like their Handel sounding vital yet genteel, this is an ideal release. For those who want something more raucous, and at an even lower price, Jean-Claude Malgoire's CD on Sony will be preferable. Malgoire's scrappy band, La Grande Ecurie et la Chambre du Roy, plays less well than Gardiner's, with edgy horn sound and less precise ensemble throughout. Yet their performances are dancier and more exciting than Gardiner's. Since these recordings complement each other, revealing different aspects of Handel's music, the ideal choice would be to have both, which their respective manufacturers have cooperated in making an affordable decision. --Leslie Gerber