The passacaille dance takes its name from the Spanish dance pasacalle (literally “walk-about”). It presents a wonderful series of inventions over a recurring bass line. This movement, first heard in Handel’s opera Radamisto in 1720, was repurposed for his Sonata Op. 5 No. 4 in G Major. Recorded here by The English Concert and Kristian Bezuidenhout at the Henry Wood Hall in London in November 2019. 

Performers:

  • Nadja Zwiener, Tuomo Suni – Violins
  • Alfonso Leal del Ojo – Viola
  • Jonny Byers – Cello
  • Christine Sticher – Bass
  • Kristian Bezuidenhout – Harpsichord and Director
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Mary Bevan and Harry Bicket rehearse ‘Lascia ch’io pianga’ from Handel’s Rinaldo
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