This week we look at music of two composers -- Handel and Mozart -- and some of the differences in the way they sound depending on the viewpoints and ideas of the performers, as well as the various musical forces available then and today.
When Mozart's music is played on a modern grand piano accompanied by an orchestra of likewise modern instruments, the balances shift and there is a subtle, but quite noticeable change in the character of the music.
Likewise with Handel's instrumentation, but to this we can add differences of focus as to whether the music is for concert use or for a pleasant diversion.
The performances are all correct and they are all worthy, but they are not at all the same.
