Gabrieli Consort and Players - Paul McCreesh

The third concert in the Handel series shows a completely different side of this German composer: the playful, exceptionally melodious and highly Italian-oriented Handel. No magnificent choruses here: three soloists and a small instrumental ensemble are more than enough for Handel to bring to life this story from Ovid's 'Metamorphoses'. The idyllic pastoral with the shepherd Acis and the nymph Galatea is soon disturbed by the horrible monster Polifemo, whom Handel gave the most impossible vocal part imaginable. As a born opera composer, in this serenata Handel does not let the action falter for a moment and describes his characters with perfect precision in the arias, duets and trios. It is guaranteed to be a great discovery and gain for every lover of Baroque. And the umpteenth proof of Handel's versatility and inexhaustible inspiration, proof which he first presented effortlessly in 1708, when barely twenty-three. Those who have enjoyed the Handel performances by Paul McCreesh and his Gabrieli Consort at deSingel know that this frivolous 'Catata a tre' is in good hands.