George Frideric Handel: Dixit Dominus; Laudate pueri; Nisi Dominus in Bloomington, MN

The three
Handel
Latin psalm settings on this 2024 release by the
RIAS Kammerchor
and
Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin
were all composed in 1707 in Italy when
was 21 or 22 and had just unleashed his talent on the wide world. The
Dixit Dominus, HWV 232
, and
Nisi Dominus, HWV 238
, are well known, the soprano-and-chorus setting
Laudate pueri, HWV 237
, perhaps a bit less so. This recording, in any event, is state-of-the-art
. The music seems to catch the composer advancing by leaps and bounds into his mature style, and conductor
Justin Doyle
seems to catch this with his muscular performances of music that seamlessly integrates solid blocks of polyphony with irresistible melody. The
here is amply sized, with ten sopranos (two fewer in
Laudate pueri
), looking forward to a time in England when
would have larger forces at his disposal. The performances are vigorous, with attention throughout to the tone painting, never overdone, that
includes at various places. Perhaps the best of all is the set of soloists, headed by veteran soprano
Carolyn Sampson
in
, but displaying some wonderful up-and-comers, notably countertenor
Alex Potter
, in the two larger works. With clear, direct sound from the Haus des Rundfunks in Berlin from
Harmonia Mundi
, this is
at his best. ~ James Manheim