With their new cd Handel's Chandos Anthems Musica Gloria confirms its place among the most inspired interpreters of baroque music today. The ensemble, which is releasing its seventh cd with this recording, once again manages to move us with a recording in which warmth, precision and inspiration converge. Under the inspiring leadership of Nele Vertommen and Beniamino Paganini, Handel does not sound like a composer from a distant past, but as a living voice full of light, emotion and humanity.
The cd, released on Et'cetera Records, brings together three works that form a fascinating contrast. The Lord is my Light(Chandos Anthem no. 10, HWV 255) is brimming with praise and trust. The music radiates openness: jubilant choruses, sparkling rhythms and a vitality that inevitably sweeps us along. As Pants the Hart (Chandos Anthem no. 6, HWV 251b) forms the reverse side of that light — an intimate meditation on longing, loss and hope. The aria Tears are my daily food is a model of intimacy, while the duet Why so full of grief goes straight to the heart in its simplicity.
Between the two anthems, the oboe concerto in B-flat (HWV 302a) serves as a subtle link. The oboe, played by Nele Vertommen herself, connects the radiant optimism of the first anthem with the restrained depth of the second. The combination of soloistic flair and ensemble sensitivity makes this concerto a poetic resting point in the middle of the programme.
The recording bears witness to a remarkable unity of sound and vision. The voices blend into a smooth, warm glow, the instruments sound clear and lively, and the whole breathes a natural musicality that remains both refined and spontaneous. The technical recording quality reinforces that sense of intimacy and clarity: one hears here not merely a performance, but a living dialogue between musicians and composer.
The booklet that accompanies the cd is a valuable addition. The notes by emeritus professor Ignace Bossuyt place Handel's Chandos Anthems in their historical and musical context and eloquently express what makes this music so special: "Lyrical and dramatic arias alternate with intimate and brilliant choruses", he writes, and precisely that contrast forms the soul of this recording.
The two anthems heard here are part of a programme that had its premiere in August 2023 in Hoegaarden. In 2024, performances followed in Liège and in the Czech Ostrava, where the concert was even broadcast live on national television — a well-deserved international recognition for the artistic power and presence of Musica Gloria.
The official presentation of Handel's Chandos Anthems takes place on Friday 31 October at 8pm in the Sint-Geertruikerk in Leuven. An excellent opportunity to experience this music, which contains as much heavenly light as human depth, live in the irresistible interpretation of Musica Gloria.