Handel: Messiah

George Frederick Handel (Composer), Richard Bonynge (Conductor), English Chamber Orchestra (Performer, Orchestra), Brian Runnett (Performer), Valda Aveling (Performer), Dermot Coleman (Performer), Joan Sutherland (Performer), Werner Krenn (Performer), Tom Krause (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: English Chamber Orchestra, Brian Runnett, Valda Aveling, Dermot Coleman, Joan Sutherland, et al.
• Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra
• Conductor: Richard Bonynge
• Composer: George Frederick Handel
• Audio CD (October 13, 1992)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B0000041ZU
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #85,103 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #15 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Sutherland, Joan
  • #39 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Featured Performers, A-Z > Q to T

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. Overture

2. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. Comfort ye

3. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. Every valley shall be exalted

4. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. And the glory of the Lord

5. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. Thus saith the Lord

6. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. But who may abide

7. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. And he shall purify

8. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. Behold, a virgin shall conceive... O thou that tellest

9. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth

10. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. The people that walked in darkness

See all 19 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. Surely he hath borne our griefs

2. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. And with his stripes

3. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. All we like sheep have gone astray

4. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. All they that see him... He trusted in God

5. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. Thy rebuke hath broken his heart

6. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. Behold and see

7. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. He was cut off... But thou didst not leave

8. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. Lift up your heads

9. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. Unto which of the angels... Let all the angels of God

10. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. The Lord gave the word

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sutherland sings like an angel!, June 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Handel: Messiah (Audio CD)

With ravishing bell-like tones, you can almost see a halo on top of Joan Sutheland's head. What passion, what a gorgeous sound she makes! Just sends chills up and down one's spine. The recording is wonderful, the choir brilliant, and the supporting cast is excellent. But Sutherland is the vocal miracle!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not a poor recording!, October 29, 2002

By 

Laura Hedden (State College, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Handel: Messiah (Audio CD)

As a cellist with 13 years of experience and a professional musicologist, I am disappointed at the mixed reviews this recording has received. I have heard many different recordings of this piece (and played it many times), and I must say that this one is one of the best I have heard. An especially good feature of this recording is the orchestral playing. The orchestra is very sensitive in their accompaniment of the soloists. Also, the ornamentation in the vocal parts (Every Valley, Rejoice Greatly) does not seem to me to be excessive, and falls well within the norm of what would be expected in a typical Baroque performance. Don't be discouraged from buying this one!

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring, May 24, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Handel: Messiah (Audio CD)

Just the singing of "How beautiful are the feet" by Dame Joan is worth the price of this cd. It is the most beautifully sung aria, or song I've ever heard. The voice sounds innocently sweet, clear as a bell and silvery. She adds perfect trills.
I've listen to this piece close to a hundred times and adore it. The rest of the arias by Sutherland are also spectacular. The recorded sounds is church like, and Christmas like. And the conducting and orchestra and chorus are wonderful.