Clara Ponty's "re-imagined" Handel

@mashif 

I don't have a horse in this race but it seems to me that "listener engagement" could be open to interpretation. For some, being drawn into the music emotionally would fully qualify. Correct me if I wrong but I get the sense you have something else in mind. What does this phrase mean to you?

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Emotional involvement is paramount for any music and that can be enough. I don’t dislike the simpler emotional stuff like this, but with classical I want to hear real artistic creativity in addition. I want to hear composition that requires some virtuosity. But I listen to both for different experiences. 

That's why I mentioned that starting with Handel is better than some of the more contemporary composers. It's real classical music with a modern twist. 

@mashif 

Thanks for your explanation. I came across this accidentally on youtube while searching for something else and it piqued my curiosity. I hadn’t been aware of this practice of rearranging Classical works and wanted to know what Classical music lovers thought about it. 

Agree. Dumbed-down Handel may be better than pure superficiality, but it's no substitute for the higher aesthetic appeal of the real stuff performed as Handel intended it to be heard.