‘Handel at his most inspired … the whole performance is fresh and electrifying’ (The Guardian)

‘Plenty to enjoy. No lover of Handel should be without it’ (Early Music Review)

‘Full of superb music … highly recommended’ (The Daily Telegraph)

‘Robert King blows cobwebs off a neglected Handel oratorio’ (Classic CD)

‘Performed with spirit and style, beautifully recorded and handsomely presented. Yet another Hyperion winner. Hear it’ (The Singer)

‘A very fine set, with a lot of magnificent music, played and sung as well as one could hope for’ (Gramophone)

‘Immensely enjoyable’ (Goldberg)

‘The voices contrast well, and their owners, as well as The Brandenburg Consort, perform this wonderful music with style and an intense sense of affection’ (BBC Music Magazine)

‘Right on cure for the bull market in Handel operatic stock,'The Rival Queens' conquer all before them. A right royal feast!’ (Classic CD)

‘This CD is appealing on every plane. It's certainly one of my discs for 1997’ (Gramophone)

‘Resplendently produced in the Hyperion manner … the singing is so gloriously stylish here that Handelians will probably grab it up without much urging’ (San Francisco Examiner)

‘Very engaging sonatas performed stylishly and with lively spirit by Convivium … well worth exploring’ (BBC Music Magazine)