Handel: Messiah (Complete Oratorio); Battle, Quivar, Aler, Ramey, Davis

George Frideric Handel (Conductor), Andrew Davis (Performer), Kathleen Battle (Performer), Florence Quivar (Performer), John Aler (Performer), Samuel Ramey (Orchestra), Toronto Symphony Orchestra & Toronto Mendelssohn Choir (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Andrew Davis, Kathleen Battle, Florence Quivar, John Aler
• Orchestra: Samuel Ramey
• Conductor: George Frideric Handel
• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B000002RPL
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #44,819 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #3 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Battle, Kathleen
  • #47 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Featured Performers, A-Z > A to B

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part One: Sinfonia

2. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part One: Comfort ye my people

3. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part One: Ev'ry valley shall be exalted

4. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part One: And the glory, the glory of the Lord

5. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part One: Thus saith the Lord

6. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part One: But who may abide

7. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part One: And he shall purify

8. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part One: Behold a virgin shall conceive

9. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: O thou that tellest

10. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part One: For behold, darkness shall cover the earth

See all 24 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part Two: Surely he hath borne our griefs

2. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part Two: And with His stripes we are healed

3. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part Two: All we like sheep

4. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part Two: All they that see Him

5. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part Two: He trusted in God

6. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part Two: Thy rebuke hath broken His heart

7. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part Two: Behold, and see if there be any sorrow

8. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part Two: He was cut off out of the land

9. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part Two: But thou didst not leave

10. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part Two: Lift up your heads

See all 28 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Their Sound is Gone Out", December 17, 2000

By 

E. A. Lovitt "starmoth" (Gladwin, MI USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Handel: Messiah (Complete Oratorio); Battle, Quivar, Aler, Ramey, Davis (Audio CD)

I used to sing in Handel's "Messiah" every year under a succession of very good conductors, and so became familiar with the dynamics, mood, and color of the choruses and arias. I also own several recordings of "Messiah", and I'd like to say that this version with Andrew Davis conducting is by far my favorite. Each separate chorus or aria is carefully sung and colored by beautiful orchestration. When Kathleen Battle floats into her part of the duet, "He shall feed his flock", she and her music will make you believe in angels, no matter what your religious inclination.

The chorus achieves that very special and disciplined baroque sound. Their dynamics are perfect and they skip tunefully through some of Handel's most fiendish choruses (I don't care how many times we sang "His Yoke Is Easy" or "All We Like Sheep" - one section, usually the sopranos, either fell behind the rest of us or mumbled the words).

Lastly, I'd like to single out John Aler, the tenor, and Samuel Ramey, the bass, as performing the highlights of this recording, for me. Aler has that clear, flexible, brilliant head voice that is so essential for the Handelian repetoire. Ramey is THE perfect coloratura bass, and he proves it again on this CD. I wish I could find a recording of him in Handel's "Rinaldo".

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is the "Messiah" You Want, August 25, 2000

By 

R. W. Rasband (Heber City, UT) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Handel: Messiah (Complete Oratorio); Battle, Quivar, Aler, Ramey, Davis (Audio CD)

Forget the "original instruments" versions. You want a big, rich (but not bombastic) "Messiah." This is the version you want. It's light but not insubstantial, gorgeous but not overblown and truly majestic as you imagine the sound should be. Plus Ramey and Battle are in great form. The perfect Christmas gift.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Standard for All Other Messiah Recordings., April 11, 2005

By 

Choir Director (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handel: Messiah (Complete Oratorio); Battle, Quivar, Aler, Ramey, Davis (Audio CD)

I have performed the Messiah many times - as a soloist, choir member and conductor. This CD sets the standard for all other recordings of the Messiah. The orchestra under Andrew Davis performs with a wide range of emotion, the soloists are brilliant (adding just enough ornamentation to the music to make it enjoyable - not unrecognizable), and the choir is magnificant. A wonderful collaboration of talent. Well done!