No noblemen in England and very few in Europe lived a life as splendid, as magnificent, as grand as that of the Duke of Chandos. At Cannons, north of London, the residence of James Brydges (1674-1744) hosted Handel from 1717 to 1719, where he worked with the Prince’s musical forces, composing eleven anthems for soloists, choir and orchestra, destined for the religious services of the court. A precious collection and a testing ground for the master’s future great oratorios, the Chandos Anthems fuse genres with impressions of Italian cantatas, Corellian sonatas, arias and choruses in the pure English tradition of Purcell. All too little-known, these gems are led with panache by Gaétan Jarry and captivate instantly with their virtuosity, their light texture and their colors, generously painted by Handel’s genius!
