Because it was the first recording of Handel's final oratorio, it served as a primary reference for many listeners before the era of historically informed performance (HIP).
Collectors often look for the original 1969 vinyl for its high-quality stereo sound and the inclusion of detailed liner notes by Handel scholar Winton Dean. Handel: The Masterworks - GFHandel.org Handel - Jephtha (Johannes Somary) (1995 [1969])
Johannes Somary's 1969 recording of George Frideric Handel's oratorio (HWV 70) was a landmark release as the work's first complete recording . Originally released as a three-LP box set on the Vanguard Cardinal label (VCS-10077/8/9), it was later reissued on CD in 1995 under the Vanguard Classics "Everyman" series. Performance & Ensemble Because it was the first recording of Handel's