Dresden was a music capital of European rank during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, which means that this German city and baroque music have a common history. It was in Dresden that important composers and musicians of the time lived and worked. In 1991 graduates of the Dresden College of Music discovered their shared interest in this musical epoch and founded the Dresden Baroque Orchestra. Its members are committed to offering energetic interpretations on baroque instruments in keeping with the tenets of historical performance practice and to the rediscovery of forgotten works from the collection of the Dresden court chapel – top priorities for them that have also become their trademarks.

Handel’s work on Jeptha in 1751 was repeatedly delayed as a result of his steadily progressing blindness. Even so, with Jeptha Handel created a musical masterpiece of baroque oratorio, with its great choruses, emotionally expressive arias and gripping ensembles. A fine line up of soloists with the Kammerchor of the Dresden Frauenkirche and the Dresden Barockorchester, conducted by Matthias Grünert, make this another excellent release from Carus, presented as part of their Handel anniversary year celebrations.

Dresden was a music capital of European rank during the 17th-18th centuries. It was in Dresden that important composers and musicians of the time lived and worked. The Dresden Baroque Orchestra is committed to offering energetic, historically-informed interpretations on baroque instruments and to the rediscovery of forgotten works from the collection of the Dresden court chapel. This collection contains numerous works by composers famous and not, some 1800 manuscripts in all.