Doyle’s direction is assured. In the densest counterpoint, he makes voicing crystal clear...Roderick Williams earns special mention for his thrilling additions to ‘The trumpet shall sound’, and countertenor Tim Mead illuminates his part through intense declamation...the Kammerchor is nimble, sweet-toned and polished – with ensemble and diction to rival that of any professional English choir - but its climaxes are muted.

The 34-strong professional choir has plenty of flexibility in its sound and the recording is distinguished by stylish orchestral playing and an excellent team of soloists; the brief duet between Tim Mead and Thomas Hobbes in ‘Oh death, where is thy sting?’ is a particular highlight.

The Akademie are simply one of the world’s finest baroque orchestras, technically immaculate but also with a distinctive woody strength to their sound...The soloists, too, are great to listen to. Julia Doyle has a voice of bewitching clarity...Mead is a superb countertenor whose richly lyrical voice, almost like a contralto in places, has not a weak note in it..Doyle is keen to avoid overloading the oratorio with bombast by holding things back in places, the better to release his forces more effectively elsewhere.

A covetable new recording of Handel’s Messiah...with spirited, lean performances from the Rias Kammerchor Berlin and Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, conducted by Justin Doyle, with top soloists.