This 41-CD set presents the 16 oratorios that form George Frideric Handel’s greatest legacy in renowned period-instrument performances, all presented at an exceptional level.  These are the  masterpieces that inspired the succeeding generation, most notably Haydn, Mozart and Mendelssohn.

The recordings selected for this collection represent some of the greatest Handel interpretations ever set down, featuring icons of the historically-informed performance movement such as Christopher Hogwood, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Trevor Pinnock, Harry Christophers and Marc Minkowski.

Within the lift-off box with its gold-foil detailing, each work is housed in its own individual gate-fold wallet.  The accompanying 3-language booklet presents detailed tracklists, session photographs and a new article by Lindsay Kemp exploring the composer’s musical genius beyond Messiah.

Contents:

CD1-2: La Resurrezione, HWV47
- Angelo: Emma Kirkby
- Maddalena: Patrizia Kwella
- Cleofe: Carolyn Watkinson
- San Giovanni: Ian Partridge
- Lucifero: David Thomas
The Academy of Ancient Music
Christopher Hogwood
 
CD3-4: Acis & Galatea, HWV49 (first version)
- Galatea: Norma Burrowes
- Acis: Anthony Rolfe Johnson
- Damon: Martyn Hill
- Polyphemus: Willard White
- Tenor: Paul Elliott
English Baroque Soloists
John Eliot Gardiner

CD5-6: Esther, HWV50 (first version)
- Esther: Patrizia Kwella
- Ahasuerus: Anthony Rolfe Johnson
- Mordecai: Ian Partridge
- Haman: David Thomas
- Israelite woman: Emma Kirkby
- 1st Israelite: Paul Elliott
- 2nd Israelite/Habdonah/Officer: Andrew King
- Priest: Drew Minter
Westminster Cathedral Boys’ Choir
Chorus and Orchestra of The Academy of Ancient Music
Christopher Hogwood
 
CD7-8: Athalia, HWV52
- Athalia: Joan Sutherland
- Josabeth: Emma Kirkby
- Joas: Aled Jones
- Joad: James Bowman
- Mathan: Anthony Rolfe Johnson
- Abner: David Thomas
Choir of New College, Oxford
The Academy of Ancient Music
Christopher Hogwood
 
CD9-10: Alexander’s Feast, HWV75
- Donna Brown (soprano)
- Carolyn Watkinson (contralto)
- Ashley Stafford (countertenor)
- Nigel Robson (tenor)
- Stephen Varcoe (bass)
Monteverdi Choir
English Baroque Soloists
John Eliot Gardiner
 
CD11-13: Saul, HWV53
- Saul: Alastair Miles
- David: Derek Lee Ragin
- Jonathan: John Mark Ainsley
- Michal: Lynne Dawson
- Merab: Donna Brown
- Abner/Amalekite: Philip Slane
- High Priest: Neil Mackie
- Doeg: Simon Oberst
- Witch of Endor: Philip Salmon
- Soprano: Ruth Holton
Monteverdi Choir
English Baroque Soloists
John Eliot Gardiner
 
CD14-15: Israel in Egypt, HWV54
- Ruth Holton, Elisabeth Priday, Donna Deam (sopranos)
- Ashley Stafford, Michael Chance, Patrick Collin, Jonathan Peter Kenny (altos)
- Nicolas Robertson, Philip Salmon, Paul Tindall, Andrew Tusa (tenors)
- Julian Clarkson, Christopher Purves (basses)
Monteverdi Choir
English Baroque Soloists
John Eliot Gardiner
 
CD16-17: Messiah, HWV56
- Arleen Auger (soprano)
- Anne Sofie von Otter (alto)
- Michael Chance (alto)
- Howard Crook (tenor)
- John Tomlinson (bass)
The Choir of the English Concert
The English Concert
Trevor Pinnock
 
CD18-20: Samson, HWV57
- Samson: Thomas Randle
- Israelite man/Philistine man: Mark Padmore
- Dalila: Lynda Russell
- Micah: Catherine Wyn Rogers
- Israelite woman/Philistine woman/Virgin: Lynne Dawson
- Messenger: Matthew Vine
- Manoa: Michael George
- Harapha: Jonathan Best
The Sixteen
The Symphony of Harmony and Invention
Harry Christophers
 
CD21-23: Semele, HWV58
- Semele: Kathleen Battle
- Juno/Ino: Marilyn Horne
- Cadmus/Somnus: Samuel Ramey
- Jupiter: John Aler
- Athamas: Michael Chance
- Apollo: Neil Mackie
- Iris: Sylvia McNair
- Priest: Mark S Doss
Ambrosian Opera Chorus
English Chamber Orchestra
John Nelson
 
CD24-26: Hercules, HWV60
- Hercules: Gidon Saks
- Dejanira: Anne Sofie von Otter
- Hyllus: Richard Croft
- Lichas: David Daniels
- Iole: Lynne Dawson
- Priest of Jupiter/Trachinian man:  Marcos Pujol
Choeur des Musiciens du Louvre
Les Musiciens du Louvre
Marc Minkowski
 
CD27-29: Belshazzar, HWV61
- Belshazzar: Anthony Rolfe Johnson
- Nitocris: Arleen Auger
- Daniel: James Bowman
- Cyrus: Catherine Robbin
- Gobrias: David Wilson-Johnson
- Arioch: Nicolas Robertson
- Messenger: Richard Wistreich
Choir of the English Concert
The English Concert
Trevor Pinnock
 
CD30-32: Judas Maccabeus, HWV63
- Judas Maccabaeus: Ryland Davies
- Israelite woman: Palmer
- Israelite man: Janet Baker
- Simon: John Shirley-Quirk
- Eupolemus: Christopher Keyte
- Messenger: Paul Esswood
Wandsworth School Boys’ Choir
English Chamber Orchestra
Sir Charles Mackerras
 
CD33-35: Solomon, HWV67
- Solomon: Andreas Scholl
- Solomon’s Queen: Inger Dam-Jensen
- 1st Harlot:  Alison Hagley
- 2nd Harlot: Susan Bickley
- Queen of Sheba: Susan Gritton
- Zadok: Paul Agnew
- A Levite: Peter Harvey
Gabrieli Consort & Players
Paul McCreesh
 
CD36-38: Theodora, HWV68
- Theodora: Susan Gritton
- Irene: Susan Bickley
- Didymus: Robin Blaze
- Septimius: Paul Agnew
- Valens: Neal Davies
- Messenger: Angus Smith
Gabrieli Consort & Players
Paul McCreesh
 
CD39-41: Jephtha, HWV70
- Jephtha: Nigel Robson
- Iphis: Lynne Dawson
- Storgè: Anne Sofie von Otter
- Hamor: Michael Chance
- Zebul: Stephen Varcoe
- Angel: Ruth Holton
Monteverdi Choir
English Baroque Soloists
John Eliot Gardiner