Alexander's Feast: an Edinburgh Classical CD review

ALEXANDER’S FEAST

By Iain Gilmour

This Handel double CD recorded in Edinburgh’s historic Canongate Kirk for Delphian Records by Ludus Baroque is a double first.
It is the first commercial recording by the group of musicians and singers, founded by conductor Richard Neville-Towle in 1997, who come together twice a year in the Kirk to perform works by Bach and Handel. It is also Handel’s first major work in English, a setting of an Ode for St Cecilia’s Day by the poet Dryden.

An instantaneous critical and popular success at its premiere in 1736 -- the box office takings were an enormous £450 -- two years later it was the first unabridged Handel score to be published.
Rarely heard in its entirety in modern times, though the duet “None but the brave deserve the fair” is well-known as a solo aria, this almost faultless performance shows Handel at his most versatile. The depiction of how the legendary Greek Timotheus used the power of music to turn Alexander the Great from fiery vengeance, through mournfulness to peacefulness, entails changes of mode and mood by instruments, chorus, and soloists.

The hand-picked chorus, some 20 strong, were perfect in timing and intonation. All three soloists have rising reputations.
Soprano Sophie Bevan has appeared in leading roles at Welsh National Opera and English National Opera and in concerts with eminent conductors such as the late Sir Charles Mackerras. Ed Lyon, tenor, has a busy concert career is UK and Europe and in the operatic world has played the title role in Stravinsky’s RakesProgress and Haydn’s Orfeo .Bass William Berger was hailed by Gramophone magazine as “one of the best younger baritones” and has had operatic roles in Aix en Provence, Boston, and with the Mark Morris Dance Company since making his debut at Gottingen.
Conductor Richard Neville-Towle is Director of Music at Canongate Kirk.
All-in-all, a CD worth having and listening to. A worthy companion to Delphian’s disc of Concerto Caledonia’s late night sessions at the 2009 Edinburgh International Festival.