Bob Draper responds to Ron Chaplin: >>One thing I don't understand about the recording is having a contralto, >>Helen Watts, sing the role of Israelite Man. Was this >>customary during Handel's time? > >This is one of the reasons I wrote the other day about the >castralto/falsetto question. Personally I prefer a man to a woman in this >role whether he has all his faculties or not. I'd prefer to go with women singing these Baroque roles every time. I love the speaking voice of women and the singing voice of women: I just love everything about women. So, I have no problem recognizing these females voices as belonging to male characters. Also, the story lines in Baroque operas and oratorios are rather lame; it's the music which attracts me. I don't have any of the Brilliant Classics releases of Handel vocal works and doubt I'll be buying them. The HIP recordings I have suit me just right. Although Brilliant prices are as low anyone could reasonably want, it just wouldn't be a good use of my music funds. Don Satz [log in to unmask]