Soloists: Lucy Crowe, Anna Dennis, Katherine Manley, Madeleine Shaw. La Nuova Musica. Conductor: David Barnes Harmonia Mundi HMU 907585.86 ***

This is a world premiere recording of Handel's second opera in its original 1712 version, and is particularly welcome as the work is unlikely to become part of the main repertoire. Il Pastor Fido was written for the London stage the year after Handel's great success with Rinaldo. While Rinaldo was a dramatic and flamboyant work with its plot drawn from a Crusader epic poem, this libretto is more of a set of pastoral scenes than an actual drama. In line with the gentle lyricism of the plot, Handel uses a small ensemble and his music has a gentle quality in keeping with the words. For this recording the young cast perform, almost without exception, the music with style and panache. Lovers of Handel's dramatic style may find the score a little anaemic, but it does have a gentle lyrical quality. harmoniamundi.com