Gramophone Magazine
April 2026
Editor's Choice

Hilary Cronin (soprano), Helen Charlston (mezzo), Alexander Chance, Nathan Mercieca (countertenors), Guy Cutting (tenor), Frederick Long, Edward Grint (bass-baritones), Irish Baroque Orchestra & Choir, Peter Whelan

For the first time, the Irish Baroque Orchestra and its Artistic Director Peter Whelan have recorded the ensemble’s signature work, Handel’s Messiah. Surprisingly, this is the first recording on historical instruments by an Irish ensemble—a fitting tribute given the work was premiered in Dublin in 1742. The Irish Baroque Choir and an array of first-class singers join the IBO to capture the atmosphere of that extraordinary moment in Dublin’s history, tracing the origins of this enduring masterpiece with an ensemble of just thirteen singers, including the vocal soloists.

"This fresh and exhilarating Dublin performance dispels decades of overblown Messiah baggage. A vivid and captivating recording, highly recommended. Whelan draws a fleet-footed performance from his orchestra and choir, their singing light and precise enough to sound almost gossipy in places... Whelan is set to be one of the new leading names in baroque music." — Gramophone Magazine, April 2026