Samson
Handel

One of Handel's most popular oratorios during his lifetime, composed within weeks of messiah.

Samson proved to be one of Handel's most popular oratorios during his lifetime, composed within weeks of Messiah. Thomas Randle sings a commanding title role ("Samson with attitude...: The Independent), with Lynda Russell's vocally seductive Dalila, and Catherine Wyn-Rogers' rich and expressive Micah. Samson opens with a pagan festival and closes with an elegy. Its finale is rightly established as one of the most famous arias of all time" "Let the bright Seraphim in burning row/ Their loud, uplifted angel-trumpets blow."

"Powerful choral singing from The Sixteen and alert playing by the period-instrument band make this the most pleasurable Samson yet recorded." - Sunday Times

"I was struck by the unusual clarity of the texture in the choruses, attributable to Christophers' direction and insistence on firm tone and incisive articulation and to the work of the engineers. Altogether a welcome issue." – Gramophone

The Sixteen
The Symphony of Harmony and Invention
Harry Christophers

COR16008
- Three CD Set

TRACK LISTINGS
Samson - Thomas Randle (tenor)
Israelite man, Philistine man - Mark Padmore (tenor)
Dalila - Lynda Russell (soprano)
Israelite woman, Philistine woman, Virgin - Lynne Dawson
Micah - Catherine Wyn-Rogers (alto)
Messenger - Matthew Vine (tenor)
Manoa - Michael George (bass)
Harapha - Jonathan best (bass)

CD1 total time 72.40
CDs total time 78.05
CD3 total time 54.10