Handel - Alexander Balus 1748 English Oratorio in 3 Acts

Palmer Singers (Artist), Edward Brewer (Artist), Jennifer Lane (Artist), D'Anna Fortunato (Artist), Rudolph Palmer (Conductor), Brewer Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra), George Frideric Handel (Performer), Julianne Baird (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: George Frideric Handel, Julianne Baird
• Orchestra: Brewer Chamber Orchestra
• Conductor: Rudolph Palmer
• Audio CD (January 27, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Newport Classic
• ASIN: B000003W3M
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #469,764 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Alexander Balus, oratorio, HWV 65: Act 1. Overture

2. Alexander Balus, oratorio, HWV 65: Act 1. Chorus. Flush'd With Conquest

3. Alexander Balus, oratorio, HWV 65: Act 1. Recitative. Thus Far, Ye Glorious

4. Alexander Balus, oratorio, HWV 65: Act 1. Air. Great Author

5. Alexander Balus, oratorio, HWV 65: Act 1. Fanfare / Recitative. And This

6. Alexander Balus, oratorio, HWV 65: Act 1. Air. Thrice Happy

7. Alexander Balus, oratorio, HWV 65: Act 1. Recitative. Congratulation / Air. Hark

8. Alexander Balus, oratorio, HWV 65: Act 1. Recitative. Be it / Air. Fair Virtue

9. Alexander Balus, oratorio, HWV 65: Act 1. Chorus. Ye Happy Nations Round

10. Alexander Balus, oratorio, HWV 65: Act 1. Recitative. My Jonathan / Air. Oh What

See all 20 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Alexander Balus, oratorio, HWV 65: Act 2. Recitative. Stay, My Dread Sovereign

2. Alexander Balus, oratorio, HWV 65: Act 2. Air. Hateful Man

3. Alexander Balus, oratorio, HWV 65: Act 2. Chorus. O Calumny

4. Alexander Balus, oratorio, HWV 65: Act 2. Recitative. Ah, Whence / Air. Tost

5. Alexander Balus, oratorio, HWV 65: Act 2. Recitative. Give / Air. Pow'rful Guardians

6. Alexander Balus, oratorio, HWV 65: Act 2. Recitative. Thus far / Air. Virtue

7. Alexander Balus, oratorio, HWV 65: Act 2. Accompanied Recitative. Ye Happy / Duet. Hail

8. Alexander Balus, oratorio, HWV 65: Act 2. Chorus. Hymen, Fair

9. Alexander Balus, oratorio, HWV 65: Act 3. Sinfonia

10. Alexander Balus, oratorio, HWV 65: Act 3. Recitative. Tis True / Air & Chorus. Here Amid

See all 20 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Baird a treasure as Cleopatra, December 18, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Handel - Alexander Balus 1748 English Oratorio in 3 Acts (Audio CD)

While the King recording on Hyperion boasts a stylistically knowing cast and crew, this beautiful, unheralded recording features all Americans with splendid voices and a full-blooded approach to the dramatic (especially Act III) in an often-static plot line, which their more polished British neighbors shy from.
But far and away the best of both CDs is the superb work by soprano Julianne Baird as the hapless Cleopatra (not the Elizabeth Taylor Cleo but one by the same name from an earlier chapter in Egyptian history, it seems). Her death lament reflects some of the composer's--and the singer's--finest, most shining pages. Fine work from conductor Rudolph Palmer and D'Anna Fortunato in the title role also recommend this recording from Newport Classic.