Händel: Coronation Anthems - The English Concert, Pinnock

George Frideric Händel
Coronation Anthems
Choir of Westminster Abbey, The English Concert, Trevor Pinnock, Simon Preston
Archiv 410 030-2

Not just any Coronation Anthems either.

I had not heard the LP of this recording of Handel's Coronation Anthems and so was able to approach the CD without preconception. A thrilling experience it turned out to be, too, for although I had heard Compact Discs in demonstration surroundings, such an artificial experience made much less of an impact on my ears than that of listening domestically. The recording quality of these anthems is superb. Roger Fiske enjoyed them very much and I am able to add little that is constructive to his original review.

I confess that, at first, my heart sank at the thought of having to accommodate yet another piece of 'hardware'—1 believe that is the current term for this sort of equipment—in an already well-filled home; but installation proved to be so easy, and the mechanism by which, at the slightest touch, the disc moves in and out on a tray, so childishly diverting, that I was won over in about 90 seconds. If a brief word about the performances themselves is required then I can only say that their rivals on Argo are simply not in the same league. Roger Fiske remarked on the cleanness of sound on the LP; I do hope he will have an opportunity of hearing the CD version, since everything that he noted about that is further emphasized here. Strongly recommended if and when you have the equipment.

N.A., Gramophone Magazine