2009 is an anniversary year for four of the all time great classical composers: Handel, Haydn, Purcell and Mendelssohn. Blackwell is pleased to offer a selection of titles all produced to celebrate these anniversaries.

Handel 1685-1759

Born in Halle in 1685, Handel spent most of his adult life in London, mainly composing for the royal family and his aristocratic patrons. Handel's long list of compositions include 42 operas, 29 oratorios and 12 organ concerti. His most famous work, the oratorio Messiah, is one of the most widely performed pieces in the classical canon. Many other works, such as his pastoral masque Acis and Galatea are also enjoying increasing popularity, resulting in a number of new recordings, such as this one by the 'utterly magical' Dunedin Consort (Gramophone January 2009). The new release by Il Giardino Armonico of Handel's Concerti Grossi provide a fantastic overview of the composer's instrumental and orchestral music.

We can also unreservedly recommend the new Handel series from Harmonia Mundi: beautifully presented in book style wallets, these sets feature some of the most celebrated interpretations available of these particular works. They also represent exceptional value for money; for instance, the opera box includes three operas for less than the price of one.

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Haydn 1732 – 1809

Haydn spent most of his adult life composing for the court of Prince Nickolaus Esterhazy in Hungary. He was a prolific composer of symphonies and chamber music. In addition he wrote a number of large choral works, notably Die Schöpfung (The Creation), a staff favourite at Heffers Sound (Blackwell) Cambridge, which features in Brilliant Classics Haydn Edition boxed set.

Also included in the set are all 104 symphonies and the first complete recording of the 126 baryton trios. The set is terrific value at only £100 for 150 discs!

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Purcell 1659 - 1695

Like several other English composers of the early Baroque period, Purcell was a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal, composing many church anthems and service settings. However, he is perhaps best known nowadays for Dido and Aeneas, a hauntingly beautiful operatic setting of Virgil's Aenied Book IV. Blackwell recommends this new recording featuring Sarah Connolly and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.

The viol fantazias were a product of Purcell's youth, and here he experiments with a form which was becoming anachronistic. However, these extraordinary works display melodic inventiveness, and sublime intensity in their unexpected harmonies. We recommend this performance from Vittorio Ghielmi and his ensemble for its passion, precision and immediacy.

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Mendelssohn 1809 - 1847

Mendelssohn is most famous for his incidental music to Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, and the Hebrides Overture. He was also instrumental in the revival of Bach's music, conducting in 1829 the first performance of the Matthew Passion since Bach's death. What is less well known is that Zelter, Mendelssohn's teacher, allowed his young pupil to perform the work on the condition that he first made an arrangement of Handel's Acis and Galatea. Blackwell thoroughly recommends The Festival Orchestra Göttingen's premiere recording of this arrangement.

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