College Latin

In a year of Handel celebration and many new recordings, this is a welcome addition to the discography. Stephen Layton, the Academy of Ancient Music, the Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge, and a stellar group of soloists—in fact, the best in solo Handel singing that this country has to offer—present a disc of three of the Chandos anthems which is sure to achieve the same critical and public acclaim as the recent Dettingen Te Deum from Trinity.

Where does one begin to praise this CD? The bitter-sweet lyrics, the brilliant intertwining of piano and guitar, the perfect vocal harmonies, the atmospheric texture, the magic of the melodies? "Bringing Rosa Home" is the sixth and strongest CD so far from the English band Latin Quarter. The richness of ideas of joint band- leaders Steve Skaith and Richard Wright is overwhelming, their musical taste undeniable. The twelve pop-songs on their new CD sound smooth and effortless almost as a matter of course. Like all really first-class things.