“Händel alla turca” is the subtitle of this release, and that pretty much explains it. Werner Ehrhardt, formerly of Concerto Köln, and Mehmet C Ye∞ilçay of the Pera Ensemble, specialists in traditional Ottoman music, have combined to produce a theatre-piece built around numbers from Rinaldo and Giulio Cesare “Turkished”. Why? The booklet cites the Baroque precedents of the pasticcio opera and of diplomatic occasions enriched by joint performances by musicians from the respective delegations, but this 70-minute concoction is clearly not primarily a historical exercise. Rather, it is a cross-cultural entertainment, and the best way to enjoy it is to stop thinking about it too much and just sit back and listen. The plot, if there is one, is too vague to worry about, but with tunes like “Piangerò”, “Venti, turbini” and “Ombra mai fù” ardently sung and vigorously played, there is plenty to enjoy.

That is, unless you find the idea of these superb arias not only being set among rather slower-paced Turkish classical music but also acquiring the extra accompaniment of instruments such as ud, ney and kanun makes you queasy. Some throaty Turkish singing from Ahmet Özhan may also be not quite what you want from a Handel disc. If that is the case, stay away. But if, like me, you find the sounds of Handel’s slow arias lovingly shadowed by Turkish instruments and his faster ones enlivened by percussion strangely haunting, then stick with it. Handel’s greatness is undimmed but this new gloss brings a glow of community that seems appropriate to a composer of such compassion. The live recording is vivid and the sometimes ragged ensemble is no more than a small irritant under the circumstances. A one-off curiosity, certainly, but a worthwhile and touching one.