Handel's English Rival

The only Englishman who could offer Handel serious competition in the theatre, this is a pleasing disk of Overtures by Thomas Arne, played by Collegium Musicum 90 conducted by Simon Standage. The eight overtures here follow the accepted practice of the time of making the instrumental introductions to vocal works available for concert use but the precise vocal works that they referred to are subject to some conjecture. Six of the overtures are examples of the older French type pioneered by Lully and used by Handel. They have dignified opening movements which are followed by a fugue and conclude with a dance movement that can be an elegant gavotte, a lively hornpipe or a minuet and jig, depending on the theatrical work being prefaced. The other two overtures are more Italian sinfonias as developed by Alessandro Scarlatti, comprising a bustling fast movement, soulful slow movement and a minuet. there are a further two overtures on the disk which also follow the Italian model. They are the overtures to the comic opera Thomas and Sally and the oratorio Alfred ( presumably about "the Great" ? ). Maybe an entire disk of this stuff gets close to outstaying its' welcome but it is a good natured and accomplished recording that provides a civilsed kind of background music while still repaying closer attention.