Handel: Joshua - English Oratorio in Three Acts

George Frideric Handel (Composer), Rudolph Palmer (Conductor), Brewer Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra), Julianne Baird (Performer), John Aler (Performer), D'Anna Fortunato (Performer), John Ostendorf (Performer), Edward Brewer (Performer), The Palmer Singers (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Julianne Baird, John Aler, D'Anna Fortunato, John Ostendorf, Edward Brewer, et al.
• Orchestra: Brewer Chamber Orchestra
• Conductor: Rudolph Palmer
• Composer: George Frideric Handel
• Audio CD (October 1, 1993)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Newport Classic
• ASIN: B000003W2B
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #531,824 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Joshua, oratorio, HWV 64: Overture - Brewer CO/Rudolph Palmer

2. Joshua, oratorio, HWV 64: Act 1. Chorus. Ye sons of Israel - The Palmer Sgrs/Cynthia Richards-Hewes

3. Joshua, oratorio, HWV 64: Act 1. Recitative. Behold, my friends / Air. Oh first in wisdom - John Aler/John Ostendorf

4. Joshua, oratorio, HWV 64: Act 1. Recitative. Matrons and virgins / Air. Oh! who can tell - Julianne Baird

5. Joshua, oratorio, HWV 64: Act 1. Recitative. Caleb, attend to all I now prescribe. / Solo & Chorus. To long posterity we here - John Aler/The Palmer Sgrs/Cynthia Richards-Hewes

6. Joshua, oratorio, HWV 64: Act 1. Accompanied Recitative. So long the memory shall last / Air. While Kedron's brook to Jordan' - John Aler

7. Joshua, oratorio, HWV 64: Act 1. Recitative. But who is He? / Air. Awful, pleasing being - D'Anna Fortunato

8. Joshua, oratorio, HWV 64: Act 1. Accompanied Recitative. Joshua, I come commission'd from on high - The Palmer Sgrs/Cynthia Richards-Hewes/John Aler

9. Joshua, oratorio, HWV 64: Act 1. Recitative. To give command / Air. Haste, Israel, haste - John Aler

10. Joshua, oratorio, HWV 64: Act 1. Chorus. The Lord commands - The Palmer Sgrs/Cynthia Richards-Hewes

See all 17 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Joshua, oratorio, HWV 64: Act 2. Air. To vanity and earthly pride - Julianne Baird

2. Joshua, oratorio, HWV 64: Act 2. Recitative. Let all the seed of Abrah'm now prepare / Solo & Chorus. Almighty ruler of the s - John Aler/The Palmer Sgrs/Cynthia Richards-Hewes

3. Joshua, oratorio, HWV 64: Act 2. Recitative. Joshua, the men / Chorus. How soon our tow'ring hopes are cross'd!

4. Joshua, oratorio, HWV 64: Act 2. Recitative. Whence this dejection? / Air. With redoubled rage return / Chorus. With redouble

5. Joshua, oratorio, HWV 64: Act 2. Recitative. Now give the army breath. / Air. Heroes, when with glory burning

6. Joshua, oratorio, HWV 64: Act 2. Recitative. Indulgent Heav'n hath heard my virgin pray'r / Air. As cheers the sun the tender

7. Joshua, oratorio, HWV 64: Act 2. Recitative. Surely I'm deceiv'd! / Air. Nations, who in future story

8. Joshua, oratorio, HWV 64: Act 2. Recitative & Flourishes. Brethren and friends

9. Joshua, oratorio, HWV 64: Act 2. Solo & Chorus. Oh! thou, bright orb

10. Joshua, oratorio, HWV 64: Act 3. Chorus. Hail! mighty Joshua, hail!

See all 17 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars handel joshua, February 8, 2012

By 

krank (utah) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Handel: Joshua (MP3 Download)

this is my all time favorite recording of any music. Julianne Baird is my idea of the perfect Handel soprano. Listen to the linnet and the thrush to hear why. I was greatly pleased to find this item on Amazon.

kent

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars diamond in rough, December 13, 2003

By 

Requiemk626 "Sarah" (Virginia beach, Va United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handel: Joshua - English Oratorio in Three Acts (Audio CD)

The conductor may be no Raymond Leppard, but he's preferable by a great stretch than some of these other "new baroque" recordings out there where everything is a forte marcato allegretto. He maintains the baroque atmosphere, much like Harnoncourt's sound (is this he? I don't know who the conductor is). The chorus also has the baroque sound, but my goodness! Thank God for a chorus with proper vowels and a nice sound! Much better than some Deutsche Grammaphon choruses I've heard. If you like the Monteverdi Choir with Gardiner, you'd probably like this chorus as well (I myself am a choister and soloist specializing in oratorio and other such sacred music).

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars follow up, December 13, 2003

By 

Requiemk626 "Sarah" (Virginia beach, Va United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handel: Joshua - English Oratorio in Three Acts (Audio CD)

Oops, sorry, forgot about the soloists. John Aler has a brighter tenor sound, not as dark as Robert Tear, but the way he handles the recitative text is very similar. Both he an John Ostendorf are a little heavy on the vibrato for my taste, but their diction is not that much skewed by it. J. Ostendorf is a heavy, rich bass, which is striking when you first hear it against Aler's brighter lyric voice. It almost seems wooly, but he steers it away from any Wagnerian tendancies to create a striking bu handsome compliment. Baird is gorgeous- it's that simple. She is not my favorite, but she comes real close. With a voice reminiscent of Emma Kirkby and expression along the lines of Janet Baker, it's a refreshing treat among all these increasing Helden-Sopranos who think that baroque music gives them an excuse to through all delicacy out the window. Over all, this recording is more of a 4 1/2, and I think the most well balanced one may come across.