Apollo's Fire & Jeannette Sorrell Handel Israel in Egypt, Hwv 54 (2023)

Apollo’s Fire’s unique take on these masterpieces is finally an album! If you thought you knew The Four Seasons, be prepared for surprises! GRAMMY winners Jeannette Sorrell and Apollo’s Fire join with virtuoso violinist Francisco Fullana to present Vivaldi’s revolutionary acts of musical storytelling with fierce commitment.

Oberlin is a native of Akron, OH, who, despite his birthdate (1928), is a contemporary to falsetto countertenor Alfred Deller – Oberlin also began his recording career right around 1950. Unlike Deller, countertenor is Oberlin's true range, and unlike Deller, he did not stick around to make recordings when his voice was past its prime; in the mid-'60s Oberlin quit singing and went into education. While Oberlin is not quite forgotten, relatively few plaudits and reissues have come his way.

Lebanese-American tenor Karim Sulayman’s neat encapsulation of the Orpheus myth infuses his solo recording debut, ‘Songs of Orpheus.’ Orpheus, the greatest singer of all time, famously followed his deceased beloved Eurydice to the gates of Hades in an attempt to bring her back to life. He was thwarted by the gods who forbade him to gaze at her during their journey back to earth. he could not resist, and the tale has been told in numerous musical interpretations including those of Monteverdi and his 17th-century compatriots who are represented on this imaginative album, performed with leading baroque interpreters Jeannette Sorrell and Apollo’s Fire. Acclaim for Karim Sulayman and Apollo’s Fire has been widespread: “the soloists and instrumentalists are first class” (BBC Music Magazine) “an absorbing collection of early music, beautifully performed by the Cleveland-based instrumental-choral ensemble and vocal soloists” (Chicago Tribune).