Handel: Te Deum in D major 'Dettingen', HWV283

“Nicholas McGegan secures a lithe and characterful account of the orchestral writing from his Göttingen Festival players, and the choral singing has plenty of vitality” BBC Music Magazine, June 2010 ****

“In this excellent account of Zadock the Priest by Layton, the most striking numbers are the internalised prayers for redemption and mercy, rather than the royal brown-nosing and tub-thumping. The youthful (undergraduate) voices of Trinity’s choir sing superbly throughout, and quite magnificently in Zadok, which rounds off the disc climactically after a stylish performance of the A major Organ Concerto by Richard Marlow.” Sunday Times, 22nd June 2008 ****

“Composed to celebrate George II's victory against the French in 1743 - the last time a British monarch led his troops into battle - the "Dettingen" Te Deum is often dismissed as Handelian tub-thumping. Yet, in a performance as precise and exuberant as this (wonderfully expressive diction from the Trinity Choir), its trumpet-and-drum-fuelled extroversion comes across as elementally exciting rather than merely brash. Handel is careful, though, to leaven bellicose ceremonial with moments of quiet entreaty, as in the poignant bass solo "Vouchsafe, O Lord", sensitively sung here by Neal Davies. Zadok the Priest is duly overwhelming, without ponderousness, while Richard Marlow's nimble performance of the organ concerto makes a delightful bonus.” The Telegraph, 31st May 2008

“Trinity College Choir go a long way to restoring the [Te Deum] here, giving it the performance it failed to get first time, when, instead of St Paul's, Handel squeezed his musicians into the chapel at St James's Palace. Great singing with sprightly playing from the Academy.” The Observer, 25th May 2008

“Layton fervently rethinks every detail. His tempos are faultless, the Academy of Ancient Music plays as though possessed, and Neal Davies's solos lend an authority complementing the more soft-grained soloists from within the choir. A stylish Zadok and nimble Organ Concerto are welcome bonuses.” BBC Music Magazine, July 2008 ****

“Complementing the inspiriting performance of the Te Deum… is a properly overwhelming account of Zadok the Priest… and a delightfully deft one… of the A major concerto that Handel quickly recycled as the Concerto grosso Op 6 No 11.” Gramophone Magazine, August 2008

“.Helbich gives us the Dettingen work in a thoroughly enjoyable performance... his choir and solo quartet, with period orchestra, give a rousing rendition, with no serious problems of English diction. Such quality at the Naxos bargain price will be welcome enough, but diligent Handelians will particularly crave this release for the recorded premiere of an earlier setting of the Anglican canticle based on the Chandos Te Deum in B-flat... It is an interesting and attractive addition to our knowledge of how Handel assimilated earlier Anglican sacred writing into his evolving sacred style. Once again, the performance is thoroughly effective and in constantly fine sound. A genuine bargain, this!” American Record Guide, March/April 2002