Reviewed by Liz Knowles

German by birth, but a Londoner by adoption, baroque's finest composer here offers all his greatest hits, and more, on one CD. The playing is vibrant and lively. But then, we would expect no less from the likes of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, the Philharmonia Virtuosi of New York, and the RPO. What would you expect to find? The Queen of Sheba arriving, the Largo from Xerxes, music for water trips and fireworks, the "Hallelujah Chorus" as a finale. There's also a taste of several of Handel's operas and oratorios - "Semele", "Samson", "Julius Caesar" and "Judas Maccabaeus". It's a brilliant introduction to the scope of the man's music, an excellent addition to the fan's collection, and with nearly 80 minutes of music on the disk provides quantity as well as quality.

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