The oboe was a particularly beloved instrument for Handel, and he dedicated one of his earliest surviving instrumental compositions, a Concerto in G minor, to it around 1704-1705.
Performer Biography
Bart Schneemann, the baroque oboist on this album, was the unanimous winner of the prestigious 3M Music Laureate Prize in 1991.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in September 2008 at the Waalse Kerk in Amsterdam, Netherlands, using DSD Super Audio technology.
Composer Biography
George Frideric Handel, a German-born composer, dominated the English musical scene with his operas and oratorios from 1711 until his death in 1759.
Composition History
Handel learned the art of opera during his five-year 'grand tour' of Italy, where he also experimented with Italian cantatas, which he considered 'operas in miniature'.
Historical Context
Handel's operas were popular in London due to their relatable depiction of human emotions, such as indecision, despair, fury, and unhappy love.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Handel, a theatrical composer at heart, was fascinated by human psychology and aimed to portray emotions at their most vulnerable moments.
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