Harpsichord Suites 6-8

This might be a good introduction to Handel suites for the impecunious. Alan Cuckson plays some of the composer's most attractive music here, and he plays it well as far as he goes. Each movement has its own mood, and all Cuckson's thoughts about the music make sense. Except for one: he does not play any repeats, which gives you more Handel suites for the money, but takes the sense of scale away from each one. Igor Kipnis's Nonesuch CD (79037-2) costs more, but it's worth every cent to hear the way he treats the repeated sections.--Leslie Gerber