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Reviewer: Nicholas
Anderson Handel gave the first performance of his oratorio 'Joshua' at London's Theatre Royal, Covent Garden in 1748. The text, which may be by Thomas Morell concerns the conquest of the Promised Land by the Israelites and is a metaphor for the victory of the Hanoverian dynasty over the Catholic pretender to the throne, Charles Stuart. The present live recording with applause at the conclusion of Acts 1 and 3, was made at the 2014 Göttingen International Handel Festival and features an international cast of solo vocalists, the North German Radio Choir and the Göttingen Festival Orchestra of period instruments.
Laurence Cummings, the
festival's director and the musical director of this performance is a
persuasive Handelian with a lively stylistic sense to which the excellent
instrumentalists respond with warmth and immediacy. The solo lineup, alas,
is a very mixed bag. Anna Dennis (Achsah, daughter of Caleb) comfortably
steals the show with her alluring vocal timbre, fluent technique and secure
intonation. To her role is assigned the best‑known air of the piece, 'O, had
I Jubal's lyre'. Renata Pokupić's Israelite warrior, Othniel who will marry
Achsah is less engaging. Her intonation is variable and her vibrato
excessive. Tobias Berndt (Caleb) and Joachim Duske (Angel) are
disappointing, too. Kenneth Tarver in the title role has an athletic
technique, capable of virtuosity when required. His intonation though is
occasionally insecure, especially in the uppermost notes of his range. The
choruses, one of which is the second well‑known number,'See, the conqu'ring
hero comes!' are well sung and crisply articulated. | |
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