A Night with Handel

This has to be my favourite music DVD. I love Handel, I consider him the composer above all for the human voice. Whether in operas or pastorales, in massive choruses, duets or solos, in oratorios, secular or religious, whether bass, baritone, contralto, soprano or castrato, he seemed to have an absolutely secure understanding of what the human voice could achieve vocally, dramatically and emotionally. That's not to suggest Bach, Mozart, Schubert or Verdi to name just a few couldn't also produce beautiful music for the voice, but Handel's sheer versatility is without peer. This a wonderful DVD full of wonderful music. The setting is imaginative and the photography first class. The commentary is informative without being pedantic. The soloists do the music justice. The last song of the set "As Sleeps the Morn", a ravishing duet with gorgeous accompaniment, is literally spine tingling, it reduced me to tears.