Handel – Oratorios (Saul / Messiah)

To celebrate the 250th anniversary of George Frideric Handel’s death, Harmonia Mundi has released five deluxe box sets covering the full range of the German composer’s repertoire. There are collections devoted to the maestro’s operas, arias and concertos, as well as one containing the Saul and Messiah oratorios. The Messiah is always a splendid gift at this time of the year and a particularly relevant one given the anniversary. Copious and informative liner notes fill in the historical context and sit alongside very fine new recordings.