Händel: Suites pour clavecin Pierre Hantaï

• George Frideric Handel (1685 - 1759): Suite in A Major, HWV 426:
• 1Suite in A Major, HWV 426: I. Prélude02:27
• 2Suite in A Major, HWV 426: II. Allemande04:21
• 3Suite in A Major, HWV 426: III. Courante02:31
• 4Suite in A Major, HWV 426: IV. Gigue03:20
• Suite in F Major, HWV 427:
• 5Suite in F Major, HWV 427: I. Adagio03:05
• 6Suite in F Major, HWV 427: II. Allegro02:43
• 7Suite in F Major, HWV 427: III. Adagio II01:59
• 8Suite in F Major, HWV 427: IV. Allegro (Fugue)02:46
• Suite in D Minor, HWV 428:
• 9Suite in D Minor, HWV 428: I. Präludium. Allegro (Fugue)04:00
• 10Suite in D Minor, HWV 428: II. Allemande04:49
• 11Suite in D Minor, HWV 428: III. Courante01:58
• 12Suite in D Minor, HWV 428: IV. Air & 5 variations09:32
• 13Suite in D Minor, HWV 428: V. Presto05:00
• George Frideric Handel:
• 14Fugue in C Minor, HWV 61003:43
• Suite in E Minor, HWV 429:
• 15Suite in E Minor, HWV 429: I. Allegro (Fugue)04:13
• 16Suite in E Minor, HWV 429: II. Allemande03:21
• 17Suite in E Minor, HWV 429: III. Courante02:14
• 18Suite in E Minor, HWV 429: IV. Sarabande03:35
• 19Suite in E Minor, HWV 429: V. Gigue02:00
• Total Runtime01:07:37

Info for Händel: Suites pour clavecin

By the time he issued his first collection of harpsichord suites in 1720, Handel had already focused his attention entirely on opera. As soon as it was published, the set delighted music lovers and became a bestseller all over Europe. It was such a success that it was reprinted many times. Alternating between the French and Italian styles, Handel does not respect the customary sequence of dance suites of the period. But he does touch the heart. On this recording, harpsichordist Pierre Hantai brings out all the direct charm and imaginative power of these these remarkable works.

Pierre Hantaï, harpsichord

Pierre Hantaï
Born in 1964, became passionately devoted to the music of Bach around the age of ten. Thanks to the influence of Gustav Leonhardt, he began to study the harpsichord, alone at first, then guided by the American teacher Arthur Haas. He gave his first concerts at an early age, alone or with his brothers Marc and Jérôme. He then spent two years studying in Amsterdam with Gustav Leonhardt, who subsequently invited him to perform under his direction.

In the years that followed he collaborated with many musicians and directors of Baroque ensembles, among them Philippe Herreweghe, the Kuijken brothers, François Fernandez, Marc Minkowski, and Philippe Pierlot. Nowadays he mostly performs as a soloist around the world. He often appears as a guest with Jordi Savall, and he also enjoys joining his brothers and such friends as Hugo Reyne, Sébastien Marq, Amandine Beyer, Skip Sempé, Olivier Fortin, Christophe Coin and Jean-Guihen Queyras to play chamber music.

He recently re-formed the ensemble he created in the 1980s, Le Concert Français, for several concerts and a disc of suites and cantatas by Bach.

His extensive discography includes a number of recordings for Mirare: Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier (Book I), Goldberg Variations, and flutesonatas (with Hugo Reyne); three discs of sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti; a program of works by François Couperin; and most recently a recording of music for two harpsichords by Rameau (with Skip Sempé).

Booklet for Händel: Suites pour clavecin