Lord You Are Worthy

Track Listings
1. You Must Be Patient    
2. I Know the Lord Will Make a Way    
3. Savior of My Life    
4. Better Lord    
5. Jesus Shine Through    
6. Lord You Are Worthy to Be Praised    
7. Anointing    
8. Stand Still    
9. Fall on My Knees and Pray    

Lord You Are Worthy, Music, Albert Cobbs Jr., Pop, Religious / Contemp. Christian
Handel - Messiah / Augér, von Otter, Chance, Crook, Tomlinson, English Concert, Pinnock
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Ladies & gentleman: The Lord'n Savior, God Almighty
  • So Fashionable, and So Disappointing
  • A nice combination of period nad tradiitonal
  • Wait! Before you buy...
  • La mas bella y fidedigna interpretacion que se pueda obtener
 Handel - Messiah / Augér, von Otter, Chance, Crook, Tomlinson, English Concert, Pinnock
George Frideric Handel , Arleen Auger , Anne Sofie von Otter , Trevor Pinnock , The English Concert & Choir , Michael Chance , Howard Crook , and John Tomlinson
Manufacturer: Archiv Produktion
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000057DB
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. Messiah: Part One - 1. Sinfony (Grave - Allegro moderato)
  2. Messiah: Part One - 2. Accompagnato : Comfort Ye My People
  3. Messiah: Part One - 3. Air : Ev'ry Valley Shall Be Exalted
  4. Messiah: Part One - 4. Chorus : And The Glory Of The Lord Shall Be Revealed
  5. Messiah: Part One - 5. Accompagnato : Thus Saith The Lord Of Hosts
  6. Messiah: Part One - 6. Air : But Who May Abide The Day Of His Coming
  7. Messiah: Part One - 7. Chorus : And He Shall Purify
  8. Messiah: Part One - 8. Recitative : Behold, A Virgin Shall Conceive
  9. Messiah: Part One - 9. Air and Chorus : O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings
  10. Messiah: Part One - 10. Accompagnato : For Behold, Darkness Shall Cover
  11. Messiah: Part One - 11. Air : The People That Walked In Darkness
  12. Messiah: Part One - 12. Chorus : For Unto Us A Child Is Born
  13. Messiah: Part One - 13. Pifa (Pastoral Symphony)
  14. Messiah: Part One - 14. Recitative: There Were Shepherds Abiding In The Field - Accompagnato: And Lo, The Angel Of The Lord - 15. Recitative: And The Angel Said Unto Them - 16. Accompagnato: And Suddenly There Was With The Angel
  15. Messiah: Part One - 17. Chorus : Glory To God In The Highest
  16. Messiah: Part One - 18. Air : Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter Of Zion
  17. Messiah: Part One - 19. Recitative : Then Shall The Eyes Of The Blind
  18. Messiah: Part One - 20. Air : He Shall Feed His Flock
  19. Messiah: Part One - 21. Chorus : His Yoke Is Easy, His Burthen Is Light
  20. Messiah: Part Two - 22. Chorus : Behold The Lamb Of God
  21. Messiah: Part Two - Air : 23. He Was Despised

Tracks:

  1. Messiah: Part Two - 24. Chorus : Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs
  2. Messiah: Part Two - 25. Chorus : And With His Stripes We Are Healed
  3. Messiah: Part Two - 26. Chorus : All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray
  4. Messiah: Part Two - 27. Accompagnato : All They That See Him
  5. Messiah: Part Two - 28. Chorus : He Trusted In God
  6. Messiah: Part Two - 29. Accompagnato : Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart
  7. Messiah: Part Two - 30. Arioso : Behold, And See If There Be Any Sorrow
  8. Messiah: Part Two - 31. Accompagnato : He Was Cut Off Out Of The Land
  9. Messiah: Part Two - 32. Air : But Thou Didst Not Leave His Soul
  10. Messiah: Part Two - 33. Chorus : Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates
  11. Messiah: Part Two - 34. Recitative : Unto Which Of The Angels
  12. Messiah: Part Two - 35. Chorus : Let All The Angels Of God Worship Him
  13. Messiah: Part Two - 36. Air : Thou Art Gone Up On High
  14. Messiah: Part Two - 37. Chorus : The Lord Gave The Word
  15. Messiah: Part Two - 38. Air : How Beautiful Are The Feet
  16. Messiah: Part Two - 39. Chorus : Their Sound Is Gone Out
  17. Messiah: Part Two - 40. Air : Why Do The Nations So Furiously Rage
  18. Messiah: Part Two - 41. Chorus : Let Us Break Their Bonds Asunder
  19. Messiah: Part Two - 42. Recitative : He That Dwelleth In Heaven
  20. Messiah: Part Two - 43. Air : Thou Shalt Break Them
  21. Messiah: Part Two - 44. Chorus : Hallelujah
  22. Messiah: Part Three - 45. Air : I Know That My Redeemer Liveth
  23. Messiah: Part Three - 46. Chorus : Since By Man Came Death
  24. Messiah: Part Three - 47. Recitative : Behold, I Tell You A Mystery
  25. Messiah: Part Three - 48. Air : The Trumpet Shall Sound
  26. Messiah: Part Three - 49. Recitative : Then Shall Be Brought To Pass
  27. Messiah: Part Three - 50. Duet : O Death, Where Is Thy Sting?
  28. Messiah: Part Three - 51. Chorus : But Thanks Be To God
  29. Messiah: Part Three - 52. Air : If God Be For Us
  30. Messiah: Part Three - 53. Chorus : Worthy Is The Lamb That Was Slain --- Amen

Amazon.com essential recording

This is a terrific performance of Messiah. Not only are the soloists all superb, but Trevor Pinnock completely contradicts the image of many period instrument performances as small-scale, scrappy affairs. Indeed, he invests the choruses with as much genuine Handelian pomp as Beecham at his most extravagant. The trumpets really blaze, and the timpani thunder, and everyone simply has a great time. A joyous performance, just right for the holiday season. --David Hurwitz

Amazon.com

Trevor Pinnock meets with mixed success in this account of the Messiah with the English Concert & Choir and soloists Arleen Auger, Anne Sofie von Otter, Michael Chance, Howard Crook, and John Tomlinson, recorded and released in 1988. Its strengths are the strengths of the early-music movement in general. The size and distribution of the instrumental and vocal forces are optimal, which means that textures are clear and balances apt. Rhythms are nicely pointed, though often, in Pinnock's case, not quite well enough sprung. Tempos are well chosen; for example, "All we like sheep"--which turns out to be one of the set's best numbers--is a real bourré, and Pinnock animates it in just the right way. But the performance often seems workmanlike and unemotional, weighed down in too many instances by the humdrum work of the chorus. The alto section in particular, which is half male and half female, sings timidly and is constantly swallowing its entrances. Bass soloist John Tomlinson is a further drag on the effort. He has the right idea--that there's an Italian opera hiding behind all this biblical imagery--but his cottony sound is out of place, a misguided attempt to mimic Nicolai Ghiaurov. His usable range is less than a tenth (he croaks the low G's and F-sharps), and his diction is horrible. "Thus spake the Lord" is strangled, and when, in "The trumpet shall sound" Tomlinson gets to the words "we shall be changed," one can't help wishing that he had been changed too, right before the sessions started. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Ladies & gentleman: The Lord'n Savior, God Almighty.......2007-06-13

Handel's Messiah is my favorite piece of classical music. Of the two versions that I had I only have left this one, and it is not the best (the other had been a cheap recording whose author's name I forgot too). This version seems to lack a little enthusiasm from the voices; too melancholic. Anyway, this is the first review of any music that I write, and probably will be the last too, so I just want to leave my impression of how I feel when I hear these solemn and heavenly sounds. One feels so raised to the heavenlies... I can almost sense the presence of the Lord Almighty up yonder among the clouds, and me being carried in solemnity to meet Him. Far away are the buzzing sounds of earthly chores. The air is fresh and clean as we are raised above the valleys, and we come to meet God's elected amid the singing, stronger and stronger. Jubilant, bathed in the glorious rays of the Savior's Light, we come together and sing: Glory to God, glory to God, praise and glory for He is coming...

2 out of 5 stars So Fashionable, and So Disappointing.......2007-02-01

This would be a great 21st Century Reader's Digest version of Messiah, if such a thing existed any more. Handel did as much as he could, but really, the performers still have to do something besides posture, which, by the way, seems to me to characterize many performances these days. Fashionable, but musically deficient.

Specifically: John Tomlinson sings like he thinks he IS God, instead of singing about Him. Heavy, cumbersome, and overblown. May I add boorish?

Arleen Auger has a very sweet voice. And??

Despite the program notes insisting that certain segments of this Messiah are given to "the contralto", Anne Sofie von Otter is NOT a contralto. Not even close.

The male alto can barely sustain a legato line - why he insists upon throwing in those complicated, badly-performed embellishments I can't figure. Well, I can, but I'd really rather not say.

Wake up, choristers!! It's 'For Unto Us A Child Is Born," not "Oy, I have to go to the grocery store today."

Boy do I regret having spent almost $40 on this one. Thank goodness I have the Colin Davis to console me.

4 out of 5 stars A nice combination of period nad tradiitonal.......2006-12-17



This 1988 recording sits between the euqally English, euqally period-ifnluenced Hogwood and Garidner. Of the three, Hogwood sounds more 'authentic' because it uses boys in the chorus and singers schooled period practice. By comparison, Pinnock's soprano, Arleen Auger, and mozeeo, Von Otter, are essentially modern singers--gorgeous ones, of course, Gardiner is far more anemic in his conducting and uses a scrwny-sounding orchestra, so if that's more authentic, so be it. Of the three, Pinnock gives us more traditional music values in his emotional expression and instrumental timbres.

The competiiton is mushc stiffer now than in 1988, but Pinnock's reading has survived the test of time. He is not a genuinely inspired conductor--sadly, Messiah has become a cottage industry that excludes most big-name talents--but neither are Gardiner and Hogwood. (For sheer musicality, I tend to put my money on Andrew Parrott, Robert King, Marc Minkowski, Niklaus Harnoncourt, and Rene Jacobs.) But he's certainly good eough. The reason I haven't given five stars is that the male soloists aren't first-rate, and in particular the Wotan voice of John Tomlinson sounds cavernous in the bass arias. Add to that Pinnock's tendency toward tepidness, and what you end up with is a very good but not great performance.

5 out of 5 stars Wait! Before you buy..........2006-05-28

... This Messiah has recently been re-released at a much cheaper price. Go back and look for the DG "The Originals" release, which is being sold new for under $12.

5 out of 5 stars La mas bella y fidedigna interpretacion que se pueda obtener.......2004-12-29

Soy uno de los mas fanaticos seguidores de Handel y de su obra El Mesias... He escuchado muchas versiones de esta genial e impresionante obra del maestro Handel y, sencillamente no me queda mas que recomendar esta interpretacion, bajo la batuta del maestro Trevor Pinnock. Se nota la exigencia con que esta version se interpreto, dentro el contexto del arte barroco y la magnificencia de la pronunciacion del ingles de la epoca. La orquesta se luce impresionantemente desde la obertura... y le da a cada movimiento, toda aquella fuerza y a la vez delicadeza requerida en el sentimiento que aplica en cada uno de los textos biblicos escogidos por el guionista Jennens. El Coro del English Concert es arrebatador y demuestra maestria en la interpretacion de cada una de las arias que le corresponde. La soprano Arleen Auger, la puedo definir como un angel cantando y resulta ser una caricia a los oidos, a la vez que es capaz de arrancarle a uno las lagrimas por lo excelso de su magia interpretativa. El tenor Crook, aunque no es un tenor con tesitura para canto barroco, es realmente habil y agil al momento de interpretar los melismas caracteristicos de este brillante periodo musical. El contratenor Michael Chance, es fenomenal y quiera Dios que yo tenga el honor de conocer a este genio del canto: "But who may abide..." interpretado por Chance en esta version, es como para caer en extasis. La contralto Anne Sophie von Otter..., tiene una voz oscura y redondeada..., tambien resulta una caricia a los oidos y su "If God be for us..." es desbordante, capaz tambien de hacerle a uno derramar lagrimas por su belleza interpretativa. El bajo Tomlinson..., es barbaro!!! (Soy bajo-baritono en el Coro de la Orquesta Sinfonica Nacional de Costa Rica...) A pesar de su voz tan oscura, es tremendamente agil cuando le toca cantar los melismas y es genial al alcanzar la tonalidad brillante en las partes de notas altas y agudas...; por ejemplo: "The people that walked in darkness..." y "Why do the nations..." Tengo seis años de experiencia, interpretando musica coral y tengo que decir que espere esos seis años, desde 1999, para felizmente cantar esta obra "El Mesias". Ha sido fantastico finalmente lograr este objetivo..., la espera valio la pena y debo admitir que mi inspiracion ha sido sin duda alguna, la version que puede usted encontrar en este disco compacto. Doy gracias a todos los que intervinieron en esta grabacion (al maestro Trevor Pinnock, al English Concert and Choir y a los solistas ya mencionados), en nombre mio y en nombre del maestro Handel.
Handel: The Masterworks (Box Set)
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    		Handel: The Masterworks (Box Set)

    Manufacturer: Brilliant Classics
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    ASIN: B00062FLI8
    Release Date: 2004-11-30
    Handel - Messiah / Vyvyan · Sinclair · Vickers · Tozzi · Royal PO · Beecham
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • Beecham's noisy Messiah
    • The Big Victorian Handel 'Messiah': Indulge Yourself!
    • Comfort Ye!
    • Familiarity hasn't bred much affection
    • Thanks to Jon!
    		 Handel - Messiah / Vyvyan · Sinclair · Vickers · Tozzi · Royal PO · Beecham
    George Frideric Handel , Sir Thomas Beecham , Jennifer Vyvyan , Monica Sinclair , Royal Philharmonic Orchestra , Jon Vickers , and Giorgio Tozzi
    Manufacturer: RCA
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    Binding: Audio CD

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    4. Messiah (Complete)
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    ASIN: B000003FB8
    Release Date: 1992-07-14

    Tracks:

    1. Messiah: Overture - Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
    2. Messiah: Recit: Comfort Ye, My People (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
    3. Messiah: Air: Every Valley Shall Be Exalted (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
    4. Messiah: Chorus: And The Glory Of The Lord - John McCarthy
    5. Messiah: Recit: Thus Saith The Lord Of Hosts (Bass) - Giorgio Tozzi
    6. Messiah: Air: But Who May Abide (Bass) - Giorgio Tozzi
    7. Messiah: Chorus: And He Shall Purify - John McCarthy
    8. Messiah: Recit: Behold, A Virgin Shall Conceive (Contralto) - Monica Sinclair
    9. Messiah: Air & Chorus: O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings (Contralto) - John McCarthy
    10. Messiah: Recit: For, Behold, Darkness Shall Cover (Bass) - Giorgio Tozzi
    11. Messiah: Air: The People That Walked In Darkness (Bass) - Giorgio Tozzi
    12. Messiah: Chorus: For Unto Us A Child Is Born - John McCarthy
    13. Messiah: Pastoral Symphony - Royal Philharmonic Chorus
    14. Messiah: Recit: There Were Shepherds Abiding (Soprano) - Jennifer Vyvyan
    15. Messiah: Recit: And The Angel Said Unto Them (Soprano) - Jennifer Vyvyan
    16. Messiah: Recit: And Suddenly There Was (Soprano) - Jennifer Vyvyan
    17. Messiah: Chorus: Glory To God In The Highest - John McCarthy
    18. Messiah: Air: Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter (Soprano) - Jennifer Vyvyan
    19. Messiah: Recit: Then Shall The Eyes (Contralto) - Monica Sinclair
    20. Messiah: Air: He Shall Feed His Flock; Come Unto Him (Contralto & Soprano) - Monica Sinclair
    21. Messiah: Chorus: His Yoke Is Easy - John McCarthy

    Tracks:

    1. Messiah: Chorus: Behold The Lamb Of God - John McCarthy
    2. Messiah: Air: He Was Despised (Contralto) - Monica Sinclair
    3. Messiah: Chorus: Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs - John McCarthy
    4. Messiah: Chorus: And With His Stripes We Are Healed - John McCarthy
    5. Messiah: Chorus: All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray - John McCarthy
    6. Messiah: Recit: All They That See Him (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
    7. Messiah: Chorus: He Trusted In God - John McCarthy
    8. Messiah: Recit: Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
    9. Messiah: Air: Behold, And See If There Be (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
    10. Messiah: Recit: He Was Cut Off Out Of The Land (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
    11. Messiah: Air: But Thou Didst Not Leave (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
    12. Messiah: Chorus: Lift Up Your Heads - John McCarthy
    13. Messiah: Air: How Beautiful Are The Feet (Soprano) - Jennifer Vyvyan
    14. Messiah: Chorus: Their Sound Is Gone Out Into All Lands - John McCarthy
    15. Messiah: Air: Why Do The Nations So Furious Rage (Bass) - Giorgio Tozzi
    16. Messiah: Chorus: Lets Us Break Their Bonds Asunder - John McCarthy
    17. Messiah: Recit: He That Dwelleth In Heaven (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
    18. Messiah: Air: Thou Shalt Break Them (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
    19. Messiah: Chorus: Hallelujah! - John McCarthy
    20. Messiah: Part III - Air: I Know That My Redeemer Liveth (Soprano) - Jennifer Vyvyan
    21. Messiah: Chorus: Since By Man Came Death - John McCarthy
    22. Messiah: Recit: Behold, I Tell You A Mystery (Bass) - Giorgio Tozzi
    23. Messiah: Air: The Trumpet Shall Sound (Bass) - Giorgio Tozzi
    24. Messiah: Chorus: Worthy Is The Lamb - John McCarthy

    Tracks:

    1. Messiah: Recit: Unto Which Of The Angels (Tenor) - Jon Vickers
    2. Messiah: Chorus: Let All The Angels Of God Worship Him - John McCarthy
    3. Messiah: Air: Thou Art Gone Up On High (Bass) - Giorgio Tozzi
    4. Messiah: Chorus: The Lord Gave The Word - John McCarthy
    5. Messiah: Recit: Then Shall Be Brought To Pass (Contralto) - Monica Sinclair
    6. Messiah: Duet: O Death, Where Is Thy Sting? (Contralto & Tenor) - Monica Sinclair
    7. Messiah: Chorus: But Thanks Be To God - John McCarthy
    8. Messiah: Air: If God Be For Us (Soprano) - Jennifer Vyvyan

    Amazon.com essential recording

    Sir Thomas Beecham's Messiah has become notorious among baroque purists (like this writer) for embodying the worst excesses of pre-1960 Handel performance: ponderous tempos, stentorian opera singers, huge lumbering choruses and orchestras, crashing cymbals, clanging triangles.... Well, we'll need a new straw man: this performance is WONDERFUL. Jon Vickers and Giorgio Tozzi negotiate Handel's writing surprisingly well; Jennifer Vyvyan takes to it naturally. The chorus and orchestra (yes, including trombones, tuba, triangle, and cymbals) may obscure the part-writing, but they fill the music with power, grandeur, and faith. If Mozart could re-orchestrate Messiah, why not Beecham? This may not be Handel's Messiah as such, it may even be a period piece itself--but it's magnificent. --Matthew Westphal

    Customer Reviews:

    3 out of 5 stars Beecham's noisy Messiah.......2006-12-23

    Here's the famous Messiah from Thomas Beecham and forces that uses crashing cymbals, enhanced timpani and brass to make it sound like a collusion between classical forces, a rock band and Canadian Brass. Listen to second CD excerpt from "Hallelujah!" for the opening cymbal crash to get an idea of what's going on.

    This performance has been debated for 40 years as to whether it is musically adept, musically correct, an exemplar of the English choral tradition, or just a big old batch of fun at Handel's expense. I first owned this during a time when I also owned a recording Handel's "Royal Fireworks Music" featuring 40 woodwinds. The two made roughly an equal amount of noise.

    There isn't much question this performance is completely out of step with the way Handel is performed in most venues today. Check out the wonderful Jon Vickers' highly operatic opening aria, "Comfort ye", then compare that to any leaned-out period group you've heard. You'll get another idea of the dimension of Beecham's project.

    While not on the agenda of the Flat Earth Society, the only real interest in a performance like this -- especially having to endure it on three CDs when just about everyone else puts it on two -- is nostalgia or history, whichever happens to be the case for you.

    My personal favorite version is in the 4-CD box of "Messiah" and "Israel In Egypt" where Andrew Parrott leads his Taverner Choir & Players and some of the best early music singers including Emma Kirkby, Emily van Evera, Margaret Cable, David Thomas, and Joseph Cornwall. HIs Messiah isn't perfect -- it uses a countertenor for a bass in one aria -- but it is more moderate than most PPP recordings and has a wonderful romantic edge to most of the score. It comes with a top notch recording of "Israel in Egypt" and still costs less than the Beehcham.

    5 out of 5 stars The Big Victorian Handel 'Messiah': Indulge Yourself!.......2006-12-16

    We live in an era when purity of intent and respect for composers' works is at an all time high. Not only are we blessed with superb 'authentic' performances on period instruments and with small choruses and countertenors and state of the art bel canto singers for Handel's evergreen "Messiah", there are many superlative recordings that are as polished as any one work on current recordings. Supposedly we are hearing Messiah the way Handel envisioned it. Perhaps so, but who is to say that had Handel the resources available today he wouldn't have jumped for joy at the drama of the old British Choral Societies version that Sir Thomas Beecham conducts on this anything but dusty recording from many years ago. The 'Old School' had its good points.

    Beecham goes all out with an orchestration, while attributed to Sir Eugene Goosens is also probably some of Beecham's own inimitable tinkering, that adds instruments not only in numbers but also in color and depth of sound. Winds double strings, percussion includes the full battery instead of just tympani, the big cello and viola sound stand equally with the big violin sound, etc. The chorus is huge, and while this allows the big dramatic moments to be intense, the fine diction Beecham demanded remains solidly intact.

    The soloists are in an operatic class of their own. Jennifer Vyvyan and Monica Sinclair were major singers when this recording was made and their singing is big and well ornamented. Jon Vickers and Giorgio Tozzi bring Verdi into the room and he is a welcome visitor to Beecham's vision of this work.

    For this listener, who prefers the 'correct, authentic' performance, this recording and others even older that celebrate the BIG Messiah are a delight. And that just proves that performance standards, no matter the interpretation of the conductor, are paramount: Beecham gives a solid, convincing interpretation to the operatic Messiah. It is lush, and huge, and absolutely wonderful to hear again! Grady Harp, December 06

    5 out of 5 stars Comfort Ye!.......2006-10-30

    If your not familiar with "Messiah" don't let the reviews scare you - this is certainly a great choice for your first or only recording. There is a lot of feeling in the playing and singing, and i feel it is quite respectful not only of the composer, but the subject matter. It includes a booklet with all the lyrics, and an essay by Beecham himself about the piece. It is a complete recording, with a "bonus cd" of extra verses not usually performed (as explained in the essay). The audio quality is great for the time it was recorded. Its much more worthy to be listened to and contemplated than to be put on as backround music at Christmastime. The price is certainly reasonable in light of the quality of the performance.

    3 out of 5 stars Familiarity hasn't bred much affection.......2005-11-02

    I first became acquainted with this recording at the tender age of 12 when I received the original Soria edition as a Christmas gift. I remember being intensely disappointed at what seemed to me then as more circus than music. Time has mellowed that negative reaction and gives a more balanced assessment of Beecham's achievement - I bought the CD reissue after all. It still doesn't inspire much affection in yours truly although I can appreciate the soloists' contributions, particularly Tozzi. The lamented Vyvyan was in better voice with Boult. Here she has a rapid vibrato and a curious way of articulating the high notes. The orchestrations seem to maintain more of the clarity of the writing by concentrating on the bass and the top without clogging up the middle voices in the manner of the Victorians. There are three pieces where it just doesn't work at all to these ears: the brassy "All we like sheep," "Hallelujah" (which summons visions of Fucik's 'Entry of the Gladiators' every time I hear it), and the disintegration of the obbligato trumpet into flute noodlings in "The trumpet shall sound," in a lightweight performance that is at odds with the grandeur of the text. I'll also admit that the splashy brilliance of "For unto us a Child is born" and the surging drama of "Surely, He hath borne our griefs" are very satisfying.

    In the forty some recordings I own (and the many performances I've attended) there's no best and no definitive. This is one I respect but don't care to hear very often.

    3 out of 5 stars Thanks to Jon!.......2005-03-08

    This recording is worth having first of all beacause of the credible singing of Jon Vickers! Yes, he really sings on the words. The "Comfort Ye" and "Every valley..." have a knew dimension after Jons reading of the score. Of course I know that in tradition we want a very much more lyrical voice to this masterpiece. But he's not alone here, and now we are already into the problem; the choir! It's just terrible, yes terrible!
    I'm just ending up with "Thanks to Jon!"




    Handel - Messiah / McNair · von Otter · Chance · Hadley · Lloyd · Marriner
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • a voice teacher and early music fan
    • I really love this recording
    • Some very good parts
    • Great mezzo and trumpet
    • And He Shall Reign Forever and Ever, Amen.
    		 Handel - Messiah / McNair · von Otter · Chance · Hadley · Lloyd · Marriner
    George Frideric Handel , Neville Marriner , Anne Sofie von Otter , Michael Chance , Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields , Sylvia McNair , Jerry Hadley , and Robert Lloyd
    Manufacturer: Philips
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    1. Handel - Messiah - The 250th Anniversary Performance / Marriner, Academy and Chorus of St. Martin in the Fields
    2. Handel - Messiah / Ameling · A. Reynolds · Langridge · Howell · Marriner
    3. Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (The Historic 1955 Debut Recording)

    ASIN: B00000414Y
    Release Date: 1992-11-17

    Tracks:

    1. Messiah: Part I: Symphony
    2. Messiah: Part I - No. 1 Accompagnato: Comfort Ye, Comfort Ye, My People
    3. Messiah: Part I - No. 2: Air Ev'ry Valley Shall Be Exalted
    4. Messiah: Part I - No. 3 Chorus: And The Glory Of The Lord
    5. Messiah: Part I - No. 4 Accompagnato: Thus Saith The Lord
    6. Messiah: Part I - No. 5 Air: But Who May Abide The Day Of His Coming
    7. Messiah: Part I - No. 6 Chorus: And He Shall Purify The Sons Of Levi
    8. Messiah: Part I - No. 7 Recitative: Behold, A Virgin Shall Conceive
    9. Messiah: Part I - Nos. 8-9 Air And Chorus: O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings
    10. Messiah: Part I - No. 10 Accompagnato: For Behold, Darkness Shall Cover The Earth
    11. Messiah: Part I - No. 11 Air: The People That Walked In Darkness
    12. Messiah: Part I No. 12 Chorus: For Unto Us A Child Is Born
    13. Messiah: Part I No. 13 Pifa: Pastoral Symphony
    14. Messiah: Part I No. 14 Recitative: There Were Shepherds - And Lo, The Angel Of The Lord - And The Angel Said Unto Them - And Suddenly There Was
    15. Messiah: Part I No. 15 Chorus: Glory To God In The Highest
    16. Messiah: Part I No. 16 Air: Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter Of Zion
    17. Messiah: Part I No. 17a Recitative:Then Shall The Eyes Of The Blind
    18. Messiah: Part I No. 18a Duet: He Shall Feed His Flock
    19. Messiah: Part I No. 19 Chorus: His Yoke Is Easy
    20. Messiah: Part II No. 20 Chorus: Behold The Lamb Of God
    21. Messiah: Part II No. 21 Air: He Was Despised
    22. Messiah: Part II No. 22 Chorus: Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs
    23. Messiah: Part II No. 23 Chorus: And With His Stripes We Are Healed
    24. Messiah: Part II No. 24 Chorus: All We Like Sheep

    Tracks:

    1. Messiah: Part II No. 25 Accompagnato: All They That See Him
    2. Messiah: Part II No. 26 Chorus: He Trusted In God
    3. Messiah: Part II No. 27 Accompagnato: Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart
    4. Messiah: Part II No. 28 Arioso: Behold, And See
    5. Messiah: Part II No. 29 Accompagnato: He Was Cut Off
    6. Messiah: Part II No. 30 Aria: But Thou Didst Not Leave
    7. Messiah: Part II No. 31 Chorus: Lift Up Your Heads
    8. Messiah: Part II No. 32 Recitative: Unto Which Of The Angels
    9. Messiah: Part II No. 33 Chorus: Let All The Angels Of God
    10. Messiah: Part II No. 34a Air: Thou Art Gone Up On High
    11. Messiah: Part II No. 35 Chorus The Lord Gave The Word
    12. Messiah: Part II No. 36 Air: How Beautiful Are The Feet
    13. Messiah: Part II No. 37a Arioso: Their Sound Is Gone Out
    14. Messiah: Part II No. 38 Air: Why Do The Nations
    15. Messiah: Part II No. 39 Chorus: Let Us Break Their Bonds Asunder Let us break their bonds asunder
    16. Messiah: Part II No. 40 Recitative: He That Dwelleth In Heaven
    17. Messiah: Part II No. 41 Air: Thou Shalt Break Them
    18. Messiah: Part II No. 42 Chorus: Hallelujah
    19. Messiah: Part III No. 43 Air: I Know That My Redeemer Liveth
    20. Messiah: Part III No. 44 Chorus: Since By Man Came Death
    21. Messiah: Part III No. Accompagnato: Behold, I Tell You A Mystery
    22. Messiah: Part III No. 46 Air: The Trumpet Shall Sound
    23. Messiah: Part III No. 47 Recitative: Then Shall Be Brought To Pass
    24. Messiah: Part III No. 48 Duet: O Death, Where Is Thy Sting?
    25. Messiah: Part III No. 49 Chorus: But Thanks Be To God
    26. Messiah: Part III No. 50 Air: If God Be For Us
    27. Messiah: Part III No. 51 Chorus: Worthy Is The Lamb - Blessing And Honour
    28. Messiah: Part III: Amen

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars a voice teacher and early music fan.......2006-10-21

    The "Messiah" was composed by Handel at his London home in the late summer of 1741..Charles Jennens described his libretto for the 'Messiah' as a "Scripture Collection", because it consists of a cleverly-arranged selection of biblical texts. Musically speaking, the recitatives and arias are definately in a style derived from opera, supplemented by choruses of the type Handel has developed in his English odes and oratorios-the presentation of the story was unconventional. The work is divided into three acts or parts, but the narrative is largely confined to Part Two: Part One is mainly concerned with prophecy and its fullfilment and Part Three with commentary on the importance of the previous story. This recording of the famous 1992 performance at Dublin took place at the Point Theatre on the 250th anniversary of the work's premeire which took place in Dublin on April 13th 1742. It is an outstanding performance, especially chorally and instrumentally. The soloists: Sylvia McNair(soprano)-Anne Sofie von Otter(mezzo)-Michael Chance (alto) were superb!!! Personally I was not pleased by Jerry Hadley's interpretation of Handel; I have a recording of him singing show tunes, and I think he does that best! Robert Lloyd's (bass) diction was most peculiar and annoyed me. However, the last 2 comments may not be universally accepted. All in all, it's one of the best 'Messiahs' I have heard, and is actually my favorite of many that I own.

    5 out of 5 stars I really love this recording.......2005-03-26

    While I haven't sampled that many different recordings of the Messiah, I really like this version. I sometimes find myself singing it, and this is the version I hear. One thing I don't like about it is that it is a 2-disc set, but the Messiah has three parts. Part II is divided -- the first half on disc 1 and the second part on disc 2. It would be nice if the parts weren't divided in the middle.

    3 out of 5 stars Some very good parts.......2002-12-14

    This is my fifth Messiah disk and I had hoped my last. Von Otter is a real draw and she is truly great. Marriner's pacing is still good. But many aspects of this CD pull it down. I have a theory that the tenor (Jerry Hadley) was mad at Marriner and sang technically perfect with zero emotion. I don't how he was allowed to get away with this. I also did not like the baritone. While I think varying the size of the chorus in this piece has merit, this choir is generally on the small side and does not have the punch when needed. Messiah choirs carry a two edged burden, either the choir is large and it gets muddy in the delicate sections or it is small and can't punch the big sections. This disk errs on the small side. The recording quality is very good, something that dodges many Messiahs. The violins are too close to the soloist microphone (or poorly mixed) and come in much too loud. So whenever there is an sprite from the violins it jumps out at you and drowns the soloists.

    The best Messiah for me is still Marriner's 1976 disk, much better overall rendition.

    4 out of 5 stars Great mezzo and trumpet.......2002-05-17

    This is one of the better Messiahs, although not quite up to Westenberg's level.

    Its world-beater aspects include mezzo Anne-Sophie von Otter, whose "He was despised" is well north of magnificent: Warmly mournful in the slow sections, snarling and spitting in the center section.

    Trumpeter Mark Bennett does by far the best trumpeting on any of my 30 complete Messiahs. "Glory to God" and "Hallelujah" are as good as it gets -- no, better than any other recording gets.

    Countertenor Michael Chance is quite good in "If God be for us" -- I say that as someone who doesn't like countertenors.

    Some of the other choruses are also well done. But tenor Jerry Hadley seems to have thought he had more lucrative things to do with his time than to think about Messiah.

    5 out of 5 stars And He Shall Reign Forever and Ever, Amen........2002-01-01

    This recording ranks itself on the top of the greatest recordings of Handel's Messiah. Being a live recording, it surpasses every other studio recordings of this piece in terms of interpretation and drama. The soloists are superb, the chorus are crisp and vital, and the ensemble plays with great virtuoso. My special remark goes to Miss McNair, I simply cannot grow tired of her! Her lyrical voice is simply destined for this work, especially in aria no 16 `Rejoice greatly, o daughter of Zion' - rejoice indeed! It is to Marriner we should all be grateful for producing this remarkable recording in the first place. Known mainly for his stupendous recordings of Mozart, it is not surprising that he's able to interpret in a true Handelian way. It's a pity that he seldom records works by Handel - I don't know if he performs them unrecorded.
    There are actually two versions of this live performance, the one here and the other is available on LaserDisc. I believe that they were recorded on two different performance time, for on some arias the soloists have different style in singing the cadenza. Whichever you prefer, this is a recording you must simply own - even when your music library boasts a dozen or so of Handel's Messiah!!
    Handel: Messiah
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • Finally a Messiah with fervor!
    • Great recording!
    • Good and Bad
    • This is a great recording!
    		 Handel: Messiah

    Manufacturer: Naxos
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    1. Christmas at Trinity

    ASIN: B00002R16A
    Release Date: 1999-11-30

    Tracks:

    1. Messiah: No. 1 Overture
    2. Messiah: No. 2 Arioso For Tenor
    3. Messiah: No. 3 Air For Tenor
    4. Messiah: No. 4 Chorus
    5. Messiah: No. 5 Recitative For Bass
    6. Messiah: No. 6 Air For Bass
    7. Messiah: No. 7 Chorus
    8. Messiah: No. 8 Recitative For Alto
    9. Messiah: No. 9 Air For Alto And Chorus
    10. Messiah: No. 10 Arioso For Bass
    11. Messiah: No. 11 Air For Bass
    12. Messiah: No. 12 Chorus
    13. Messiah: No. 13 Pifa (Pastoral Symphony)
    14. Messiah: No. 14a Recitative And No. 14b Arioso For Soprano
    15. Messiah: No. 15 Recitative For Soprano
    16. Messiah: No. 16 Arioso For Soprano
    17. Messiah: No. 17 Chorus
    18. Messiah: No. 18 Air For Soprano
    19. Messiah: No. 19 Recitative For Alto
    20. Messiah: No. 20 Air For Alto And Soprano
    21. Messiah: No. 21 Chorus
    22. Messiah: No. 22 Chorus
    23. Messiah: No. 23 Air For Alto
    24. Messiah: No. 24 Chorus
    25. Messiah: No. 25 Chorus
    26. Messiah: No. 26 Chorus

    Tracks:

    1. Messiah: No. 27 Arioso For Tenor
    2. Messiah: No. 28 Chorus
    3. Messiah: No. 29 Recitative For Tenor
    4. Messiah: No. 30 Air For Tenor
    5. Messiah: No. 31 Recitative For Tenor
    6. Messiah: No. 32 Air For Tenor
    7. Messiah: No. 33 Chorus
    8. Messiah: No. 34 Recitative For Tenor
    9. Messiah: No. 35 Chorus
    10. Messiah: No. 36 Air For Alto
    11. Messiah: No. 37 Chorus
    12. Messiah: No. 38 Aria For Soprano
    13. Messiah: No. 39 Chorus
    14. Messiah: No. 40 Air For Bass
    15. Messiah: No. 41 Chorus
    16. Messiah: No. 42 Recitative For Tenor
    17. Messiah: No. 43 Air For Tenor
    18. Messiah: No. 44 Chorus
    19. Messiah: No. 45 Air For Soprano
    20. Messiah: No. 46 Chorus
    21. Messiah: No. 47 Recitative For Bass
    22. Messiah: No. 48 Air For Bass
    23. Messiah: No. 49 Recitative For Alto
    24. Messiah: No. 50 Duet For Alto And Tenor
    25. Messiah: No. 51 Chorus
    26. Messiah: No. 52 Air For Soprano
    27. Messiah: No. 53 Chorus
    28. Messiah: Amen

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Finally a Messiah with fervor!.......2005-10-20

    I've hunted a thrilling performance of The Messiah through 240 versions so far. This is the best I've found. Some are self-conscious, dutifully singing as instructed. Some are almost childish in their lilt. Some are overblown with so much bombast that you can barely hear the heart of the music. Some are concentrated on faithfulness to the original instruments. If you want a performance that will make you shiver with the power and joy of the music, this is the one. The singers are singing about GLORY. They sound as if they are ecstatic. The musicians are at one with the music and they create a virtual cathedral wherever this CD is played, just close your eyes. Or, let your own imagery, be it celestial, or of great oceans...carry you away.

    5 out of 5 stars Great recording!.......2003-09-22

    There are so many performances of the Messiah out there that it is very difficult to point to a difinative one, but I'd put this in the catagory of the "very good" ones. As other reviewers have said, every performance is different and has its own character. Each has stronger and weaker points. Here the conductor and musicians have made good, solid musical choices. There is an amazing attention to detail which is not so obvious the first listen through but which makes the piece shine. The tempos seem to be right on, and there is no frivolous over-embellishment by the soloists. There is no attempt to be showey. The dramatic dynamics in the first section of the overture are interesting, but seem to work after you hear it a few times. This performance also includes sections which are often omitted (Second half of "He shall feed his flock," "Thou art gone up on high," "Great was the company of the preachers," and "Death where is thy sting"). I prefer the more intimate quality of a small ensemble of musicians to the mega-performances by the London Philharmonic, Vienna State Opera Orchestra, etc.. As with this performance, the smaller group lends a clarity to the music, where the larger ensembles can get a little "muddy" at times. Just my personal preference. Overall, this is a very good performance, and certainly the low price (being on the Naxos lable) makes this a clear choice.

    2 out of 5 stars Good and Bad.......2000-04-09

    I was more interested in "The Messiah" for the religious content than as a music critic, but this was too much. The strings are tinny. The orchestra is plodding. The soloists and choir are thankfully very good and seem to understand the meaning of the words. It is a shame the sound mix is uneven. The male parts come across loud and clear, but the poor women. For instance, No. 9 Oh thou that tellest..., the soloist sounded like she was singing in an echo chamber far from the mike. This is one of the most disappointing versions of "The Messiah" I have heard in a long time.

    4 out of 5 stars This is a great recording!.......2000-02-11

    I was really surprised with the new that the Messiah's New World premiere was held at Trinity Church in October 1770, twenty-eight years after it was written. This fact only will make one proud in having this CD among his collection.

    Anyhow, this is nothing more than a historic detail and would not count if this recording had not an outstanding first-rate ensemble of singers. Without doubt there is no definitive version of Messiah. Each one has its own distinctive touch and feeling and exploring it is always a pleasant journey through imagination.

    As stated by the conductor: "we must concede that performing Messiah with twenty singers and an appropriately balanced instrumental ensemble represents, at best, an imperfect comprimise", it will be easy to understand that this recording does not stand among the greatest and will probably carry some imperfections. I will mention two that kind of disppointed me a little bit. The Overture and the Chorus Worthy is the Lamb, for some reason misses the habitual vigor and strenght. Everything else is great and this is definitely a worth buying.
    Handel's Messiah
    Average customer rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
    • Old Fashioned Sincerity
    • One of the worst recordings ever made
    • Pete's Dad
    		 Handel's Messiah

    Manufacturer: Golden Classics
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

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    ASIN: B00013ND8M
    Release Date: 2004-02-10

    Tracks:

    1. Overture
    2. Comfort Ye My People
    3. Ev'ry Valley Shall Be Exalted
    4. And the Glory of the Lord
    5. Thus Saith the Lord of Hosts
    6. But Who May Abide the Day of His Coming?
    7. And He Shall Purify the Sons of Levi
    8. Behold a Virgin Shall Conceive
    9. O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion
    10. For Behold, Darkness Shall Cover the Earth
    11. People That Walked in Darkness
    12. For Unto Us a Child Is Born
    13. Pastorale Symphony
    14. There Were Shepherds Abiding in the Field
    15. Glory to God in the Highest
    16. Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter of Zion
    17. Then Shall the Eyes of the Blind Be Open'd
    18. He Shall Feed His Flock Like a Shepherd
    19. His Yoke Is Easy, His Burden Is Light
    20. Behold the Lamb of God

    Tracks:

    1. He Was Despised and Rejected of Men
    2. Surely, He Hath Borne Our Griefs
    3. And With His Stripes We Are Healed
    4. All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray
    5. All They That See Him, Laugh Him to Scorn
    6. He Trusted in God That He Would Deliver Him
    7. Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart
    8. Behold, And See If There Be Any Sorrow
    9. He Was Cut Off Out of the Land of the Living
    10. But Thou Didst Not Leave His Soul in Hell
    11. Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates
    12. How Beautiful Are the Feet of Them
    13. Why Do the Nations So Furiously Rage
    14. Let Us Break Their Bonds Asunder
    15. He That Dwelleth in Heaven
    16. Thou Shalt Break Them With a Rod of Iron
    17. Hallelujah - London Philharmonic Chorus
    18. I Know That My Redeemer Liveth
    19. Since by Man Came Death - For as in Adam, Even So in Christ
    20. Behold, I Tell You a Mystery
    21. Trumpet Shall Sound
    22. Worthy Is the Lamb That Was Slain
    23. Amen

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Old Fashioned Sincerity.......2006-12-30

    This is not the best recording of Messiah but it is by no means a disaster. Susskind was an able conductor with a valid view of this great piece. The recording from the 1950s is more than adequate (there is some roughness in the treble but it is full and clear - though some edits are very obvious indeed). The orchestra is excellent and the choir sing well. The soloists - all of them - are superb, among the very best in any version of Messiah! Susskind's tempos are slow by modern standards but there is good rhythmical bounce and a genuine sense of the greatness of the piece. If you can adjust to the broad tempos and the big scale conception then you will discover important aspects of this masterpiece in this performance - and the set costs next to nothing!

    1 out of 5 stars One of the worst recordings ever made.......2006-05-10

    This is only my second one star review. And I am rather generous with stars. But this recording is just horrible, especially considering that all of the participants are legendary musicians. First of all, this is extremely old fashioned Handel. The textures are way too heavy for music of the baroque. But worst of all, the performance just sits there like mud on your tires that won't come off. Yes, the price is very low, but whatever you do, do not buy this recording.

    2 out of 5 stars Pete's Dad.......2005-12-11

    I have had a CD of the London Philharmonic version of the Messiah conducted by Fredrick Jackson for several years and enjoyed listening to it. However, the quality of the recording leaves something to be desired.
    Alfred Deller - Portrait of a Legend
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		Alfred Deller - Portrait of a Legend

      Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

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      ASIN: B0001L1B7Y
      Release Date: 2004-06-08
      Handel: Messiah (Highlights)
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        		Handel: Messiah (Highlights)

        Manufacturer: Hmf Classical Exp.
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

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        ASIN: B00005UONC
        Release Date: 2002-03-12
        Messiah Arias & Choruses
        Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
        • A fine edition of 'Messiah'
        • Another hit for Solti!
        		 Messiah Arias & Choruses

        Manufacturer: Decca
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

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        ASIN: B0000041X1
        Release Date: 1991-09-13

        Tracks:

        1. Messiah No. 2: Comfort Ye My People - Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Keith Lewis
        2. Messiah No. 3: Every Valley Shall Be Exalted - Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Keith Lewis
        3. Messiah No. 4: And the Glory of the Lord
        4. Messiah No. 11: For Unto Us a Child Is Born
        5. Messiah No. 14: And Suddenly There Was With the Angel/Messiah No. ...
        6. Messiah No. 16: Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter of Zion - Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa
        7. Messiah No. 17: He Shall Feed His Flock - Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa
        8. Messiah No. 19: Behold the Lamb of God
        9. Messiah No. 30: Lift Up Your Heads
        10. Messiah No. 34a: How Beautiful Are the Feet - Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus,
        11. Messiah No. 36: Why Do the Nations So Furiously Rag ...
        12. Messiah No. 39: Hallelujah
        13. Messiah No. 40: I Know That Redeemer Liveth - Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus,
        14. Messiah No. 42: Behold, I Tell You a Mystery/Messiah No. 43: The ... - Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, Gwynne Howell
        15. Messiah No. 47: Worthy Is the Lamb - Amen

        Customer Reviews:

        5 out of 5 stars A fine edition of 'Messiah'.......2007-07-11

        Previously we had Robert Shaw's rendition of 'Messiah.' When we made the transition to CDs away from vinyl, I looked for Shaw, but found this instead. I am very pleased with it and recommend it.

        5 out of 5 stars Another hit for Solti!.......1999-05-20

        Solti understands how Handel loved opera. This performance is dramatic and lyric with all the full sound of the modern orchestra. The soloists excel and the CSO chorus can't be matched. A must even for those who have a Messiah or two.
        Handel: Messiah (Highlights) / Solti, Chicago Symphony (Penguin Music Classics Series)
        Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
        • Handel With Energy!
        • Wonderful and brilliant!
        • One of the best classical recordings.
        		 Handel: Messiah (Highlights) / Solti, Chicago Symphony (Penguin Music Classics Series)
        Garrison Keillor
        Manufacturer: Decca
        ProductGroup: Music
        Binding: Audio CD

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        ASIN: B00000AFQP
        Release Date: 1998-09-29

        Tracks:

        1. Messiah - Highlights: Comfort ye My People
        2. Messiah - Highlights: Every Valley Shall Be Exalted
        3. Messiah - Highlights: And The Glory Of The Lord
        4. Messiah - Highlights: For Unto Us A Child Is Born
        5. Messiah - Highlights: And Suddenly There Was With The Angel - Glory To God In The Highest
        6. Messiah - Highlights: Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter Of Zion
        7. Messiah - Highlights: He Shall Feed His Flock
        8. Messiah - Highlights: Behold The Lamb Of God
        9. Messiah - Highlights: Lift Up Your Heads
        10. Messiah - Highlights: How Beautiful Are The Feet
        11. Messiah - Highlights: Why Do The Nations So Furiously Rage Together? - Let Us Break Their Bonds Asunder
        12. Messiah - Highlights: Halleluljah
        13. Messiah - Highlights: I Know That My Redeemer Liveth
        14. Messiah - Highlights: Behold, I Tell You A Mystery - The Trumpet Shall Sound
        15. Messiah - Highlights: Worthy Is The Lamb - Amen

        Amazon.com

        This is a fine set of Messiah excerpts, with Solti in his usual extroverted, theatrical vein, using a chorus of nearly 100 and a slimmed-down orchestra of 40 (not only large, but in opposite proportions to Handel's wishes, but why quibble?). The stars of the show are the amazingly trained chorus, who can diminuendo on a dime and whose enunciation of the text is a marvel; and soprano Kiri Te Kanawa, turning in what may be one of her loveliest, warmest performances on disc. The original liner notes by Garrison Keillor put Messiah in the author's always entertaining context--his first, stunning, hearing of the music whose text he and his Plymouth Brethren knew quite well, and his occasional terror of encountering nonprofessional performances which include sing-alongs. No such terror here. --Robert Levine

        Customer Reviews:

        4 out of 5 stars Handel With Energy!.......2002-12-03

        A rare combination of dramatic choral singing, outstanding soloists, super orchestral playing( especially the trumpet), all coordinated by the master of musical drama...Solti. An outstanding collection.

        5 out of 5 stars Wonderful and brilliant!.......2000-04-01

        Solti really does a very fine job conducting, and this recording captures all the brilliance, power, majesty, and spiritual beauty of this masterpiece more than any of the other ones I've heard.

        Te Kanawa's beautiful voice enchants, and the orchestra plays with great rhythm. Last but not least, the sound is perfect, all the details are very clear(digital quality). You will feel as if the chorus and trumpets are right in your living room!

        5 out of 5 stars One of the best classical recordings........1999-10-19

        Bravo Kiri and Sir George Solti for such an examplary performance! The best classical recording, if not one of the best I have purchased. The orchestration is very good, if only Sir George were alive I'd like to congratulate him for his one of his best efforts. Kiri is at her best in this recording, although I never believed in her, she has made me a believer. The choral section is magnificent!

        Highly, highly recommended.

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