Multi award-winning period performance ensemble il giardino armonico, led by the charismatic and inspiring giovanni antonini, make their first appearance on the newly invigorated l'oiseau lyre label with a wonderful new recording of handel's 12 concerti grossi op. 6 to mark the composer's anniversary year (2009).  Handel's concerti grossi, op. 6 are one of the pillars of baroque orchestral music. Il giardino armonico takes a characteristically dramatic and instinctively italian view of the music (handel did after all hone his compositional skills in italy before settling in england). The group hopes to reclaim handel for italy by exploring some of the unique qualities that their native temperament can bring to the music.