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
Keep Reading
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Trumpeter Alison Balsom appeared on BBC Radio 4’s This Cultural Life, and dedicated a section of the programme to our 1982 recording. Many thanks to Alison for allowing us to adapt her interview for this month’s very special guest recommendation from the TEC archives.
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The English Concert is featured twice in The i Paper’s annual highlights.
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