Israelites

Judas Maccabäus is one of Handel’s most impressive and successful works. More than 50 performances took place in Handel’s lifetime. The integration of the libretto with the conflict between the Scottish Jacobites under the leadership of the catholic Stuart pretender Charles Edward and the royalist government troops played a crucial role in this. The original libretto tells the story of the struggle of the Jews against the rule of the Seleucids. Handel portrays the plot with colourful arias, touching laments and exultant triumph choruses.

This is a great example of the "old school" of English oratorio performance. Actually, it's not that "old" because although it uses modern instruments, Raymond Leppard is as fully informed about Baroque performance practice as any period instrument guy. Beyond that, he has a stunning line-up of soloists, lead by Dame Janet Baker, who sing their roles with appropriately operatic fervor.

One of the most spectacular heroes of the Old Testament is Joshua, the successor to Moses, who caused the walls of Jericho to tumble down with that city's famous trombones. The Israelites' army conquered the promised land of Canaan under his leadership. This biblical story supplies the background to Handel's oratorio 'Joshua', premiered in 1748; it was supplemented by a love story involving the young captain, Othniel and Achsah, the daughter of an elder, by the presumed librettist, Thomas Morell. Thus the composer was able to include the entire spectrum of his musical expressivity: the magnificence of tympani and trumpets, joyful and jubilant choruses, virtuoso arias and moving love duets.

George Frideric Händel - Samson
DbPowerAmp secure mode FLAC (tracks+log, no cue) + MP3 (320 kbps CBR) | 651.61 Mb (FLAC) + 366.45 Mb (MP3) | 147:44 minutes | Full info & covers.
classical, baroque, sacred | TELDEC Records, Recorded at the Musikverein, Vienna, May 1992. Cd published in 1993

Samson (HWV 57) is an oratorio by George Frideric Handel. It was based on a libretto by Newburgh Hamilton, who based it on Milton's Samson Agonistes, which in turn was based on the figure Samson in Chapter 16 of the Book of Judges. Samson is considered one of Handel's finest dramatic works. The premiere was given in London on 18 February 1743...

We all have associations with the word “Israel”—a modern-day nation in the Middle East that makes up part of the biblical Holy Land. But how did ancient Israel emerge? Who were the Israelites and where did they come from? What was it like to live in biblical Israel?

When the Nazis invaded Denmark in 1940 Koppel, a Jew, immediately evacuated to Sweden. The post-War return to his native land coupled with the unfolding of the true nature and extent of the horrors perpetrated on the Jews and many other peoples drove Koppel back to the Old Testament. Three works, all from 1949, resulted: Three Psalms of David for tenor, choirs and orchestra and two song cycles - Five Biblical Songs and Four Love Songs from the Canticles of Solomon.

Handel’s work on Jeptha in 1751 was repeatedly delayed as a result of his steadily progressing blindness. Even so, with Jeptha Handel created a musical masterpiece of baroque oratorio, with its great choruses, emotionally expressive arias and gripping ensembles. A fine line up of soloists with the Kammerchor of the Dresden Frauenkirche and the Dresden Barockorchester, conducted by Matthias Grünert, make this another excellent release from Carus, presented as part of their Handel anniversary year celebrations.

Desmond Dekker - Greatest Hits
EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 136 MB | Full Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Evergreen # 2690552 CD | Country/Year: Germany 198_
Genre: Reggae | Style: Reggae, Ska, Oldies

"Probably no other Jamaican artist has brought more international acclaim to his island home than Desmond Dekker, barring, of course, Bob Marley, but Dekker came first. Most people's introduction to the island's unique musical sound came via the singer's many hits, most notably "Israelites" and "0.0.7. (Shanty Town)." Needless to say, he was even more influential in his homeland…." ~AMG