Handel - Israel in Babylon (2005)

Disc: 1
  1. Overture
  2. To Israel's God united raise
  3. Well have ye done
  4. See her awful Domes ascending
  5. No more shall Edom's Sons
  6. The dreadful gloom of sorrow
  7. On our paternal mead
  8. The king consents to hear
  9. Sing Unto God
  10. Cease, ah! cease
  11. O thou Almighty pow'r
  12. Let thine Ear, O Lord
  13. O had we in our great prosperity
  14. Humble, patient bear the rod
  15. O let us not despair
  16. Trust In God
  17. See, in the west the ruddy sun
  18. Rise, O God, with Glory crown'd

Disc: 2
  1. I sing the produce
  2. 'Tis mighty wine inspires us
  3. The force of wine can elevate
  4. 'Tis gen'rous wine
  5. In more majestic strains
  6. Like the raging ocean's force
  7. Applauding crowds around
  8. The glorious field is won
  9. He speaks, and hostile fury
  10. Balmy peace
  11. Say O ye men, is there
  12. Great and Glorious is the King
  13. 'Tis not ye men
  14. Around the Fair attending
  15. At her feet
  16. See the fond youth
  17. When beauty's charms inviting
  18. Do you allow 'tis woman's pow'rful charms
  19. On the charmer fondly gazing
  20. Say O ye men, if such
  21. Strong the King whom all obey
  22. Give to Zorobabel the due reward
  23. A Solemn Symphony (from: Overture in D HWV 424)
  24. Hark! In a more exalted strain
  25. Great is the earth
  26. The glorious Sun
  27. Unnumber'd evils
  28. Ere the orbs
  29. O God, 'tis thou art Truth
  30. Ask what thou wilt
  31. Hear a nation's deep distress
  32. Thy suit is granted
  33. Safely go in joy and peace
  34. When we look back
  35. Long by ev'ry adverse motion
  36. To thee O God
  37. Songs Of Joy
  38. To Israel's Guardian

Julia Gooding - soprano (Pharez).
Sabine von Blohn - soprano (Israelite I).
Jonathan Peter Kenny - countertenor (Israelite II).
Joseph Cornwell - tenor (Zorobabel).
Adolph Seidel - bas (Darius).
Ekkehard Abele - bas (Salathiel).

Kantorei Saarlouis
Ensemble UnaVolta
Joachim Fontaine - conductor

Handel wrote no such work as Israel in Babylon, and this what is known as a pasticcio - a piece assembled from pre-existing material, either by the original composer or by other hands. Handel prepared several pasticcios of his own, though Israel in Babylon was put together after his death by one Edward Toms to a ramshackle anonymous libretto based on the biblical book of Ezra. Serse's famous Ombra Mai Fu also turns up, on its way to becoming "Handel's Largo".

The performance is fantastic, with thrilling choral work from the Kantorei Saarlouis, expert solo singing Julia Gooding, Jonathan Peter Kenney and Joseph Cornwell, and spirited playing from the Ensemble UnaVolta under Joachim Fontaine. Huge fun, and highly recommended. ---Tim Ashley, theguardian.com

Handel DID NOT write any opera or oratorio called Israel in Babylon. This is a pasticcio oratorio put together by a certain Edward Toms from the known published works of Handel at the time of Handel's death. It seems the London public couldn't get enough of Handel's music at the time of his death, and so several posthumous pasticcios were produced (eg. cf. by his copyist Smith). Among the works quoted in Israel in Babylon are: the Pifa from Messiah (rewritten here as an aria), Music from the Royal Fireworks, parts of some of the Chandos Anthems, the Funeral Anthem for Queen Caroline, Serse (Ombra mai fu),Giulio Cesare, Berenice, Admeto, Ottone and others. Toms has also converted several instrumental works (eg. concertos) (Op 6. No 5 Concerto Grosso),& (Op. 3 No. 2)of Handel into choruses as well, and he newly composed the recitives, since the key structures were changed. This work is similar in feeling to other arrangements/pasticcios by Handel himself, e.g. Parnasso in Festa (adaption from Athalia) and The Occasional Oratorio (pasticcio). Enjoyable to hear this familar music in new contexts and well sung. ---Marcolorenzo, amazon.com

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