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As champion of music from Ireland, Peter Whelan and his Irish Baroque Orchestra give a rare glimpse into a fascinating figure of the eighteenth-century Dublin music scene. Who was Rachel Baptist? Not much is known of the 'Celebrated Black Syren', other than she was a soprano of African descent and born in Ireland, sang regularly in Dublin, London, Liverpool and other cities, and performed alongside famed castrato Giusto Ferdinando Tenducci. The programme includes works that Baptist might have performed at the 'Grand Concert of Vocal and Instrumental Musick' held in 1752, including arias by Handel, Pasquali (a couple of premiere recordings), Purcell and some additional instrumental pieces. The 'resplendent' Rachel Redmond (The New York Times) is the soprano. Album Tracks 1. Samson, HWV 57~Sinfonia. Andante 2. Samson, HWV 57~Sinfonia. Allegro 3. Samson, HWV 57~Sinfonia. Menuetto 4. Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato, HWV 55~Mirth, Admit Me of Thy Crew 5. Alexander’s Feast, HWV 75~Softly Sweet in Lydian Measures 6. Alla Caccia 'Diana cacciatrice', HWV 79~La Marche 7. Alla Caccia 'Diana cacciatrice', HWV 79~Recitativo. Alla caccia 8. Alla Caccia 'Diana cacciatrice', HWV 79~Aria. Foriera la tromba 9. Alla Caccia 'Diana cacciatrice', HWV 79~Coro. Alla caccia 10. Grand Festino~Overture. Allegro 11. Grand Festino~Overture. Larghetto 12. Grand Festino~Overture. Presto 13. Triumphs of Hibernia~Let Earth and Air and Ocean 14. Nymphs of the Springs~Nature First Played Well Her Part 15. Concerto grosso in D Minor 'La Folia', Op. 5 No. 12 16. King Arthur Fairest Isle
