Handel: Trio Sonata, HWV 390a in G minor, Op. 2 No. 5

“[Nolte] does not employ the soft pedal much but is quite fluent in the runs, some of which are horrendously difficult, and for tackling them he deserves praise...the instrumental pieces are attractive, with the occasional snatch of a tune that one has heard elsewhere in the composer's works.” International Record Review, May 2012

“...voracious playing and demonstrative continuo from Charles Medlam and Steven Devine...Devine provides a fabulous harpsichord realisation in the Musette...London Baroque do sterling service to the leading native English composers of the era” Gramophone Magazine, November 2010

“Italian Baroque wind ensemble Zefiro play beautifully and programme thoughtfully...The versatile Gemma Bertagnolli sings stylishly in three languages...[her] palpitations in the first vocal phrase are emotive, and her embellishments during "Ho tanti affetti" are beguiling.” Gramophone Magazine, September 2010

“Ensemble Zefiro highlights the oboe. Their playing is delightfully alert in allegros, raptly expressive in the slow movements. The largo of the G minor trio is a highlight. Bertagnolli enchants in Mi palpita il cor” Sunday Times, 27th June 2010 ***

“The idea of alternating trio sonatas with cantatas is a happy one, based perhaps on the idea that people play CDs for pleasure and not simply for reference. The two cantatas are rarities on record.
Tra le fiamme is a spectacularly scored piece, its textures enriched by a viola da gamba obbligato and wind instruments (recorders in some numbers, oboes in another) as well as strings.
Notte placida e cheta is a delightful evocation of night, sleep and amorous reflection, with its opening aria full of sinuous, voluptuous interweaving violin lines and its soft, gently accompanied recitatives; it ends – a slightly rude awakening, perhaps, to chime with the words – with a fugal aria in which the singer takes one of the four contrapuntal parts along with the violins and the bass. Catherine Bott sings them very responsively, both to the words and to the sense of Handel's lines, with neatly placed detail and some attractively floated phrases. The viol obbligato is done in accomplished style by Richard Boothby, who supplies much of the continuo harmony with multiple stops.
In the Trio Sonatas there's some splendidly athletic playing from the violins of the Purcell Quartet, which plays with its usual spruce rhythms and conversational give and take. These are probably the most appealing performances currently available of these works.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010