This is truly a lovely disc, resplendent in all departments. Carolyn Sampson has a voice which can only be described as angelic with a firm steady lower register and quite ethereal top notes. She is evidently much in love with her Handel as these arias perennially demonstrate. Each is not longer than six minutes in total but all have that distinctly Handelian flair for operatic grandeur, especially the aptly titled 'Singe, Seele, Gott zum Preise' which is extremely effective.
There are also three lovely sonatas for oboe which are thoughtfully interspersed between arias for what can only be termed as maximum effect. The B Flat Major one is particularly enticing with some fine playing from the bravura soloist Alexandra Bellamy, ably supported by Jonathan Cohen and Lynda Sace on cello and theorbo respectively. David Vickers provides studious and well structured notes to accompany these works which should be heard much more often. Yet another pure winner from the Hyperion stable of thoroughbreds.
Copyright © 2008, Gerald Fenech