Artist: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Thomas Beecham
Album: Handel, Beecham: The Gods Go a’Begging
Genre: Classical
Release Date: 2022
Audio Format:: FLAC (tracks) 24bit, 192 kHz
Duration: 18:38
Total Tracks: 9
Total Size: 699 MB

Tracklist:

01. Thomas Beecham – The Gods Go a’Begging: I. Introduction (After Admeto, HWV 22) (01:35)
02. Thomas Beecham – The Gods Go a’Begging: II. First Dance (After Teseo, HWV 9) (01:57)
03. Thomas Beecham – The Gods Go a’Begging: III. Minuet (After Alcina, HWV 34) (02:05)
04. Thomas Beecham – The Gods Go a’Begging: IV. Hornpipe (After Concerto grosso, Op. 6 No. 7, HWV 325) (01:42)
05. Thomas Beecham – The Gods Go a’Begging: V. Musette (After Il pastor fido, HWV 8) (01:59)
06. Thomas Beecham – The Gods Go a’Begging: VI. Second Dance (After Organ Concerto, Op. 4 No. 4, HWV 292) (01:37)
07. Thomas Beecham – The Gods Go a’Begging: VII. Larghetto (After Alcina, HWV 34) (02:49)
08. Thomas Beecham – The Gods Go a’Begging: VIII. Tambourine (After Alcina, HWV 34) (01:03)
09. Thomas Beecham – The Gods Go a’Begging: IX. Gavotte (After Alcina, HWV 34 & Il pastor fido, HWV 8) (03:46)

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This album is a late recording by the legendary Thomas Beecham. Much like some of his contemporaries (such as John Barbirolli), Beecham enjoyed composing witty pastiches and transcribing the old masters. In particular, the Beecham-Handel suites after excerpts from operas and instrumental music remain very famous. In 1928, Serge Diaghilev commissioned Beecham to produce music for his ravishing ballet The Gods Go A’Begging after Handel, and whose choreography designed by Balanchine was inspired by 18th-century pastorales. Here is the version conducted by the composer himself, remastered from the original tapes and made available for the first time on digital platforms.