Customer Reviews

Handel / Arr. Mozart: Der Messias (Baroque Special)

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Performances of Handel's famous oratorio, The Messiah, sung in German strike most English speakers as odd, or at least alternative. Then add, performing the work in German, as arranged by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart for one of Baron Von Swieten's baroque concerts. Then add, played and sung with sprightly HIP manners. It's just got to be way down the ladder rungs when it comes to choosing a favorite Messiah, right?

Well. If you have the time and money, you might want to take a risk, anyway.

We can already anticipate something of excellence, if we recall the musical energy and sheer sense of joy that other recordings by these singers and players have captured for us on disc in the existing catalog. The JS Bach Saint Matthew Passion is a pearl of great price, despite every early prediction that it simply must end up thin (reduced vocal forces), and eccentric (period instruments, period manners). Yet it never, ever sounds the least bit under-powered; and many a reading on disc could wish that it matched Hermann Max and company in sheer musical joy, abundant. Next, we can mention a JS Bach Saint John Passion from these same origins. Again, excellent. Then add in the pending winter holiday season release of JS Bach Christmas Oratorio. I've heard excerpts on a site with an earlier release date, and again, utterly joyful music making.

We might also take a hint from the Telemann vocal-choral works these singers and players have helped rescue from dusty, musicological obscurity. Everybody mostly knows that Georg Philipp Telemann was a musician heralded and lauded in his day; a forerunner of the great JS Bach who nearly always gets due mention in even a brief history. But who these days plays Telemann's music, apart from some of the Tafelmusik suites? Well, our current musicians for one.

So, now. Bring all the hints together. What if one approached Handel's Messiah with the sheer verve, joy, and alert period manners that Hermann Max and Friends have used in Telemann?

This two disc set is part of an answer. And - what a surprise answer we get.

Just as in other releases I've mentioned, this one is abundant with musical joy and commitment. Every soloist is not only outstanding by himself or herself; but also a glorious part of an amazing musical whole. Soprano one is Monika Frimmer. Soprano two is Mechthild Georg. Our tenor is the stellar Christoph Pregardien. Our bass is Stephen Schreckenberger. The Rheinische Kantorei are their usual stunning vocal selves, but that is anything, anything, anything but Ho-Hum or eccentrically mannered. When this smallish chorus takes center stage, you know that their singing will be all about the music, regardless of whatever historical study in practice they may bring to their task. The period instrument band is Das Kleine Konzert. They match the chorus and soloists so well in so many different technical and musical respects, I recommend you hear them rather than read me trying to describe the wonderful music they like to make.

Yes, like many versions of the oratorio, this one has its own special choices. Soprano one takes some recitatives and arias which English speaking audiences are probably more used to hearing sung by the tenor soloist. I think this is consistent with the Mozart version, commissioned by Baron Von Swieten. The added wind parts can sound too sweet to listeners whose ears have grown accustomed to the reedier tonal tart of period instruments; but in this reading the Mozart winds simply heighten the substantial, compelling glow and warmth of the scoring. Not overly sweet, then.

Okay, I'm an English speaker and I still miss the familiar English text. But that is a small quibble really, since much of what makes this reading so special is conveyed by the singing and the playing, not just by the familiar text.

Indeed, that seems to be the point with this Curate's Egg of a release. The parts that come across as familiar will simply seem uncommonly well sung and played. The parts that seem alternative or innovative (including Mozart's revised setting?) will help shine new, fresh musical light on a dear friend. The better you know Messiah, the more you might enjoy hearing what these discs provide?

Google a European CD music site where you can probably link to excerpts from this set, a sampling that will pretty quickly tell you whether this reading is refreshing to your ears, or just offbeat or eccentric in sound and manners. Even if you pass this set up, be sure to check out the two JS Bach passions, plus the near future JS Bach Christmas Oratorio. I predict you will find treasure, all in a winter holiday spirit of joy and generous music-making.

Five stars.