Radio Times: Review by:; Patrick Mulkern

Handel’s Water Music suites and Music for the Royal Fireworks as you’ve never heard them before (unless you tuned in for this late-night Prom on 18 July). An 80-strong French orchestra, Le Concert Spirituel, tries to re-create the sound from Handel’s day using authentic intruments: baroque oboes, bassoons, natural trumpets and horns. The harsh parping may be a little strange to modern ears, but their verve is admirable and balletic conductor Hervé Niquet is quite a showman in his rust-coloured frockcoat.

About this programme

From the Royal Albert Hall, London, conductor Herve Niquet leads Le Concert Spirituel in performances of Handel's Water Music and the Music for the Royal Fireworks. Both works were originally performed outside, on the River Thames and in Green Park, which required a large number of players. In this Jubilee year, the French orchestra is expanded to an ensemble of 80 musicians, all playing specially made instruments, to recreate the spectacular atmosphere of those occasions. Presented by Katie Derham.