Performer: Andreas Scholl

Whether one considers Messiah to be really appropriate for Christmas, it always a welcome gift for the Handel aficionado, and this performance from Rotterdam, while suffering some unfortunate cuts, is an otherwise solid musical offering.

A glorious performance of Handel's Biblical oratorio is marred by poor staging.

Joined by the exquisitely subtle Accademia Bizantina led by Alessandro Tampieri, Scholl brought little-known but no less great devotions to the Virgin Mary to life with impetus and intimacy.

Andreas Scholl and Collegium 1704 team up for a refreshing treatment of an early repertoire.

Inhibited by a cold and unable to give a full 100%, Andreas Scholl pulled off a solid 99 in a recital of early English music with harpsichordist Tamar Halperin.

A tantalising selection of Italian Baroque music from Andreas Scholl, Avi Avital and friends at Wigmore Hall.