Emma Bell gets better and better. This sparkling recording confirms her reputation as one of the most exciting of the younger generation of Handelians. It's the suppleness of the voice that excites, with trills that really trill and scales that effortlessly climb the heights above the stave. Richard Egarr directs a Scottish Chamber Orchestra on its very best behaviour with fine string playing throughout and a magnificently angry trumpet obbligato in the aria from Amadigi.

Here is a voice of glowing quality - bright yet creamy in texture, weighty yet pure - which is matched by fine musical imagination and a masterly control of technique. …Bell's ability in lyrical arias to float the most exposed high notes with no hint of an upward slide makes for ravishing results.

Bell ... is, quite simply, one of the most beautiful things you will ever hear