Gilbert Rowland is one of Europe’s most senior and accomplished harpsichord experts. Following his critically acclaimed 6-CD series of the Harpischord Suites of Handel for Divine Art, he presents the equally fine but lesser-known Suites by Mattheson, written in 1714. For this album he moves to the Athene imprint specialising now in baroque music and ‘period’ instruments.

This 3-CD set presents the 12 Suites in full; uncut and with repeats observed. The tempi have not been sped up in order to fit the programme on two discs as has happened elsewhere.

Mattheson was a prodigious composer, conductor and was a friend of Handel, though the two did come to blows in the midst of an opera performance. His work follows the traditional ‘dance suite’ format with small variations and is a fine example of excellent baroque music which was not perhaps promoted enough in its own time and is only now once again being rediscovered and appreciated.

Recorded in 2016