Concerto For Organ And Orchestra In G Minor (Opus 4, No. 1) / Concerto For Organ And Orchestra In B Flat Major (Opus 4, No. 2)

Released in the early 1950s on the London Records label, this recording showcases the collaboration between the distinguished conductor Ernest Ansermet, his L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, and the virtuoso organist Jeanne Demessieux. The disc features two of Handel’s Opus 4 organ concertos, pieces originally composed by the Baroque master during the 1730s to be performed by himself as intermissions during his oratorios. These works were intended to display both the technical capabilities of the organ and the expressive depth of Handel's instrumental writing.

Jeanne Demessieux was widely regarded as one of the finest organists of the twentieth century, and her partnership with Ansermet was highly anticipated by collectors of classical music during the burgeoning era of the long-playing record. The recording is notable for its clarity and the balanced acoustic captured in the Victoria Hall in Geneva, a venue favored by Ansermet for its reverberant qualities. Critics of the period praised Demessieux for her precise articulation and stylistic sensitivity, which helped bring these Baroque concertos to a wider audience during the mid-century revival of Handel's instrumental repertoire.