Handel’s haunting and melancholy Minuet in G, HWV 434/4 is a frequent encore of Russian pianist Alexander Malofeev. Following a virtuosic tour de force such as Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto, the simple, sensuous melodic lines of the Minuet pull listeners into a magical space.
This music originated as the fourth movement of Handel’s Keyboard Suite in B-flat major, HWV 434, published in 1733. It was revived by pianist Wilhelm Kempff.
This performance, featuring Malofeev, was recorded in Frankfurt on March 1, 2024:
Featured Image: Portrait of Handel (c. 1720), Jonathan Richardson
