Concert Artists of Baltimore Symphonic Chorale / Baltimore Symphony Orchestra / Edward Polochick HANDEL Messiah

Of all English oratorios Handel’s Messiah has always been the most overwhelmingly popular. It is the least theatrical of his oratorios and the most purely sacred in its choice of subject matter. The vivid choral writing—there are more choruses in Messiah than in any other Handel oratorio—coupled with the expressive density of the solo arias, have ensured its status as one of the greatest choral masterpieces in the Western canon.

Yasunori Imamura JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH Complete Works for Lute

The considerable variety of Johann Sebastian Bach’s output for the lute stands witness to different periods of his life and career. This collection comprises Bach’s complete lute works, amply demonstrating his interest in its expressive qualities. These works include the technically demanding Partita BWV 1006a, Bach’s own transcription of his Cello Suite No. 5, three pieces from the St John Passion and the St Matthew Passion where the lute appears in an ensemble setting, and the Prelude, Fugue and Allegro, BWV 998, described by the renowned harpsichordist Wanda Landowska as ‘of incomparable beauty… unique amongst Bach’s works’.