….a beautifully paced reading, reflective and dramatic by turns and always stylish….The bright soprano of Catherine Manley as Achsah is particularly attractive, especially in the oratorio’s most famous aria, ‘O had I jubal’s lyre’…..Highly recommended.

Laurence Cummings is a superb Handelian conductor with a sure sense of style, pacing and narrative, and he fields an excellent team of young British singers.

With the soprano Katherine Manley as Achsa, and the tenor Allan Clayton in the title role, the cast is strong, and Laurence Cummings keeps the arias, recitatives, and choruses in perfect balance.

This impressive first recording of the original 1748 version of Joshua was made last year at St George's, Hanover Square, during the London Handel Festival and has all the edge, drama and imperfection of any live performance. There's some good singing from Allan Clayton as a liquid-toned Joshua and Katherine Manley as a sweet-voiced Achsah...The fine playing of the London Handel Orchestra is marred by some moments of wayward intonation in the brass, but that's the price you pay for capturing it all in one take.