Handel: Israel In Agypten [Israel in Egypt] (Sung in German and arranged by Mendelssohn)

Mendelssohn's astonishing reconstruction of Handel's great oratorio for a performance in 1833 in Düsseldorf performance has been painstakingly reconstructed from fragments and sources across Europe. The large and colourful orchestra, playing nineteenth-century instruments, produces vivid new sonorities, and the double choir sings magnificently. Listeners familiar with Handel's 1739 version will find new numbers, significant changes to the order of movements, an all-German text, and many different orchestrations - for instance, Mendelssohn adds clarinets, horns and flutes to the orchestra, and the ten recitatives are accompanied by the delicious combination of two solo cellos and a contrabass. The work also begins with a thrilling, pure-Mendelssohn overture, which mixes moments of exquisitely shifting instrumental colours with terrific life and energy. (A short MP3 clip of the overture is attached).

There is fine solo singing from the soloists: sopranos Lydia Teuscher and Julia Doyle, alto Hilary Summers, tenor Benjamin Hulett, and bass Roderick Williams: Robert King and The King's Consort are on top form. The CD was recorded in the splendid acoustic of St Jude's, Hampstead Garden Suburb, London, where TKC have made more than 65 recordings.

The extensive presentation includes a 60 page CD booklet with authoritative liner notes in three languages by renowned Mendelssohn expert Prof Larry Todd and by Robert King (who recreated the score over 18 months), as well as the full libretto and translation, session photographs, and reproductions in colour, and black and white, of Mendelssohn's manuscripts.