Handel: Messiah (Arias and Choruses)

George Frederick Handel (Composer), Georg Solti (Conductor), Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Kiri Te Kanawa (Performer), Keith Lewis (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Kiri Te Kanawa, Keith Lewis
• Orchestra: Chicago Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Georg Solti
• Composer: George Frederick Handel
• Audio CD (September 13, 1991)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B0000041X1
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #216,705 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #58 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Te Kanawa, Kiri

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another hit for Solti!, May 19, 1999

By 

Albert Lynd (Edmond, OK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handel: Messiah (Arias and Choruses) (Audio CD)

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Bombastic and heavy handed ..., September 25, 2007

By 

J. Kim - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Handel: Messiah (Arias and Choruses) (Audio CD)

Solti's only attempt at Handel's Messiah is admirable in effort but the result is mixed at best. It sounds at times bombastic and heavy handed rather than grand and majestic. Although I am a fan of te Kanawa, she is not the right choice for the soprano part; her singing lacks the lightness and speed that the arias require. The diction, especially in "For unto us ..." is so peculiar and contrived that it's almost unbearable to listen to. For better balance of majesty, tonality and pace, consider Andrew Davis' rendition with the Toronto Symphony from EMI. Robert Shaw's Telarc version is not bad either, although it is not without it's flaws. For period instrument recording, my choice is Hogwood's version from L'oiseau-Lyre.

5.0 out of 5 stars A fine edition of 'Messiah', July 10, 2007

By 

Philip J. Bohlken (Caldwell, Idaho) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Handel: Messiah (Arias and Choruses) (Audio CD)

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.