Concerto In B Flat For Organ And Orchestra / Concerto No. 1 In B Flat For Oboe And Strings / Suite No. 1 From Opera "Rodrigo" / Suite From Opera "Xerxes"

This collection of Handel works, featuring the Hallé Orchestra under the baton of Sir John Barbirolli, represents a mid-century approach to the composer’s concertos and orchestral suites. Originally recorded by Pye Golden Guinea in the early 1960s, these performances reflect Barbirolli's commitment to maintaining a lush, expressive tone in the classical repertoire, prioritizing emotional resonance over the historically informed performance standards that would later become prevalent. The 1984 release on the PRT label served as a budget-conscious reissue, making these established interpretations accessible to a new generation of listeners.

The recording highlights the versatile musicianship of oboist Evelyn Rothwell, who was married to Barbirolli and frequently collaborated with him. Her contribution to the Concerto No. 1 in B Flat demonstrates the technical precision and lyricism she was known for throughout her career. By pairing these oboe and organ concertos with orchestral excerpts from Handel's operas, the album provides a concise overview of the composer's secular instrumental style, packaged in the mid-eighties as a classic reference for the Golden Guinea series.