Handel composed this massive Dettingen Te Deum to commemorate the British defeat of the French in 1743. It’s a grand work very much like his famous Messiah composed the previous year though Handel employs even larger orchestral and choral forces here. Director Simon Preston wastes no time in pulling out all the stops and all (especially the brass and percussion sections!) deliver highly rousing, exciting performances throughout. Included also is Handel’s Dettingen Anthem- the perfect though strangely rarely recorded sensible coupling. Archive’s full-bodied, richly-detailed sound as well is absolutely stupendous!
