Joachim Carlos Martini, Barockorchester Frankfurt, Junge Kantorei - Handel: Deborah (2001)

Joachim Carlos Martini is obviously a conscientious and intelligent musician. Like Robert King before him, he opts for the overture used in the 1744 revival, as only a continuo part survives of the original overture. Acknowledging that we cannot be certain of what the first performance did or did not include, he also picks and chooses items from the various editions and texts (among them Chrysander, Bernd Baselt and Robert King himself) available to him.
Without exception, the soloists sing with conviction, clarity and style. Scholl and Zazzo deserve a particular mention for their presence and conviction: Schoch is marginally less secure, and evidently less certain of his English pronunciation. The orchestra uses original or copied instruments, and seem completely at home in this music, playing as they do for the most part with polish and dexterity. Only the chorus seem in any way tested or stretched by this music, but their flair and obvious enjoyment go some way to making up for their rough edges. And it has to be said that there is some exceptionally elaborate music for them to sing here, including some complex eight-part and antiphonal material in the very best Handelian choral tradition.
The sound is bright, weighty and spacious: despite the reverberation, textures are mostly clear and words usually discernible.

– Peter J Lawson

Performer:
Deborah - Elizabeth Scholl, soprano
Jael - Natacha Ducret, soprano
Barak - Lawrence Zazzo, countertenor
Sisera - Ewa Wolak, contralto
Herald - Knut Schoch, tenor
Abinoam - Jelle S. Draijer, baritone
Junge Kantorei; Barokorchester Frankfurt
Conductor - Joachim Carlos Martini

Track List:
CD1:
01. Part I. Overture
02. Chorus: Immortal Lord of earth and skies
03. Recitative (Deborah, Barak): O Barak, favour'd of the skies
04. Duet (Barak, Deborah): Where do thy ardours raise me?
05. Chorus: Forbear thy doubts!
06. Recitative (Barak): Since heav'n has thus his will express'd
07. Soloists & Chorus: For ever to the voice of pray'r
08. Accompanied Recitative (Deborah): By that adorable decree
09. Chorus: O hear thy lowly servants' pray'r
10. Recitative (Deborah): Ye sons of Israel, cease your fears
11. Chorus: O blast with thy tremendous brow
12. Recitative (Barak): To whomsoe'er his fate the tyrant owes
13. Air (Barak): How lovely is the blooming fair
14. Recitative (Jael, Deborah): O Deborah! where'er I turn my eyes
15. Air (Deborah): Choirs of angels, all around thee
16. Recitative (Jael): My transports are too great to tell
17. Air (Jael): To joy he brightens my despair
18. Recitative (Abinoam): Barak, my son, the joyful sound
19. Air (Abinoam): Awake the ardour of thy breast
20. Recitative (Barak): I go where heav'n and duty call
21. Air (Barak): All danger disdaining
22. Chorus: Let thy deeds be glorious
23. Recitative (Herald, Barak): My charge is to declare … Proud infidel!
24. Air (Abinoam): Hateful man thy raptur'd mind
25. Air (Herald): My Vengeance awakes me
26. Recitative (Deborah, Barak): Let him approach pacific or in rage
27. Air (Deborah): Cease, O Judah, cease thy mourning
28. Chorus: Despair, all around them
29. Chorus: Alleluia
CD2:
01. Part II. Chorus of the Israelites: See, the proud chief advances now
02. Recitative (Sisera): That here rebellious arms I see
03. Air (Sisera): At my feet extended low
04. Recitative (Deborah): Go frown, Barbarian
05. Air (Deborah): In Jehovah's awful sight
06. Recitative (Sisera): Yes, how your God in wonders can excel
07. Air (Sisera): Whilst you boast the wondrous story
08. Air (Barak): Impious mortal, cease to brave us
09. Recitative (Chief Priest of Baal): Behold the nations all around
10. Chorus of Baal's Priests: O Baal, Monarch of the skies!
11. Recitative (Chief Priest of the Israelites): No more, ye infidels, no more!
12. Chorus of the Israelites: Lord of Eternity, who hast in store
13. Chorus of the Israelites: Plead thy just cause
14. Recitative (Deborah, Sisera): By His great name, and His alone
15. Soli & Chorus: All your boast will end in woe
16. Recitative (Barak): Great Prophetess, my soul's on fire
17. Air (Barak): In the battle, fame pursuing
18. Recitative (Abinoam): Thy ardours warm the winter of my age
19. Air (Abinoam): Swift inundation of desolation
20. Recitative (Jael): O Judah, with what joy I see
21. Air (Jael): No more disconsolate I'll mourn
22. Recitative (Deborah): Now, Jael, to thy tent retire
23. Air (Jael): O the pleasure my soul is possessing
24. Recitative (Deborah): Barak, we now to battle go
25. Duet (Deborah, Barak): Smiling freedom, lovely guest
26. Chorus: The great King of Kings will aid us today
CD3:
01. Part III. A military symphony
02. Chorus of the Israelites: Now the proud insulting foe
03. Recitative (Jael): The haughty foe whose pride
04. Air (Jael): Now sweetly smiling peace descends
05. Recitative (Abinoam, Barak): My pray'rs are heard
06. Air (Abinoam): Tears, such as tender fathers shed
07. Recitative (Jael): O Deborah, my fears are o'er
08. Air (Canaanite Herald): Hark! Hark! Hark! His thunders round me roll
09. Chorus of Baal's Priests: Doleful tidings, how ye wound
10. Air (Deborah): Our fears are now for ever fled
11. Recitative (Barak, Jael): I saw the tyrant breathless
12. Air (Jael): Tyrant, now no more we dread thee
13. Recitative (Deborah): If, Jael, I a right divine
14. Air (Deborah): The glorious sun shall cease to shed
15. Recitative (Barak): May Heav'n, with kind profusion, shed"
16. Air (Barak): Low at her feet he bow'd, he fell"
17. Accompanied Recitative (Deborah): O great Jehovah! may thy foes"
18. Symphony"
19. Chorus: Let our glad songs to heav'n ascend