Athalia (English oratorio in three acts)

"a thoughtful performance of a musically staisfying piece"
- BBC Music Magazine

Athalia was one of Handel's early English oratorios and was first performed at the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford in 1733, the day Oxford University were to offer Handel an honourary degree (he did not accept as it involved a fee of _100). The text was originated by Jean Racine, taking its theme from two biblical accounts of the fate of Athalia (Second Book of Chronicles and the Second Book of Kings). But from this base, Racine, Handel's librettist and the composer felt free to change everything in the pursuit of drama. The story is told in twelve scenes spread over three parts, and relates the story of the power of God, who, in the country, who deposes the wicked ruler, Athalia, who worships the icon of Baal.

Elisabeth Scholl was musically educated at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, and has since had a very active career in the field of Early and Baroque music, working with such conductors as Ren_ Jacobs, Philip Pickett and Ton Koopman.

Barbara Schlick was born and educated in W_rzburg where she now teaches at the Musikhochschule. Her repertoire is quite extensive and covers four centuries of music. She has, however, concentrated on music of the Baroque period and now has the most extensive catalogue of recordings on a number of labels, including, Virgin, Harmonia Mundi and Erato. These discs include a number of Handel oratorios.

Friederike Holzhausen was born in Leipzig where she attended the Mendelssohn Musikhochschule. Since graduating in 1995 she has travelled to many parts of Europe working mainly in the field of oratorio. With exactly the same background, Annette Reinhold, moved into opera, appearing in many of Germany's major houses, while also taking part in many concert-hall performances.

The German tenor, Markus Brutscher, was trained at the Leopold Mozart Conservatory, and after a period of study in the United States, returned to Europe where he has been in high demand working mainly in the field of 17th and 18th century oratorio.