Gramophone has published their list of “50 of the finest Handel recordings available”, many of which feature Rayfield Allied artists:
Conductor Laurence Cummings is hailed as “one of our finest and most natural Handelian conductors”, with special mention for his live recording of the 1732 version of Esther with the London Handel Choir and Orchestra (for Somm), while Nicholas McGegan’s Susanna with the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Ariodante with Freiburg Baroque (both for Harmonia Mundi) is praised for his “spirited style” and the warmth of his orchestra’s sound. With Israel in Egypt for Erato, Andrew Parrott presents his Taverner Choir and Players “firm and clean of line, well focused and strongly sustained.”
With Annie Gill, Nicholas Mulroy and Matthew Brook, three Rayfield Allied artists “illustrate profound appreciation of text” on the Dunedin Consort’s recording of the Dublin version of Messiah (Linn). William Towers and Peter Harvey collaborate on the Netherlands Bach Society’s disc of Utrecht Te Deum and Utrecht Jubilate (Channel Classics), with Harvey also appearing on the Gabrieli Consort and Players’ Solomon (Archiv).
Emma Kirkby’s “stylistic intelligence” and her “poised musicianship, and with quite astonishing technical command” see her included twice, in recordings with the Academy of Ancient Music: Chandos Anthems (Hyperion) and Athalia (Chandos).
Praise also for Robin Blaze’s “focused, even-toned countertenor” on the Gabrieli Consort and Players’ recording of Theodora (Archiv), and Elizabeth Atherton, who “conveys an ideal dosage of scorn” as Merab in The Sixteen’s Saul (Coro).
Click here for the full list and reviews.
