Search - Handel, Deller Consort :: Handel: Alexander's Feast, Ode For The Birthday Of Queen Anne / Alfred Deller, Deller Consort

Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music, was--on her name day, November 22--celebrated by the London Musical Society with a newly commissioned Ode. Handel was the composer chosen in 1736, and he reset Alexander's Feast, a text written by Dryden for the 1697 festivities. This is Handel somewhat unbuttoned--the rigor of his religious oratorios gives way to a succession of pleasing arias, often immediately repeated by the chorus, all in the eventual triumph of music over Alexander's more warlike instincts. Delicious nonsense. Alfred Deller's fluent performance is notable for exquisite singing by the soloists. Happily, his one rather squeaky contribution as vocalist in the final movement is very short. The Birthday Ode that concludes the second disc provides much work for the Dellers, father and son, but is less distinctive music. Excellently remastered sound, from 1963 recordings. --Paul Turok