Handel: Messiah

George Frederick Handel (Composer), Musica Sacra (Performer), John Aler (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Musica Sacra, John Aler
• Composer: George Frederick Handel
• Audio CD (August 10, 1999)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: RCA
• ASIN: B00000JMH6
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #146,505 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Messiah for the Millenium, December 13, 1999

By 

"basscd" (usa) - See all my reviews

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

While no work with as varied a performance history as The Messiah can be called definitive, this one comes close. First, the size and scale of the chamber orchestra and chorus is ideal; they sing and play with a precision that creates an impact of much larger forces. Second, the soloists are all one could ask. The men are particularly good, (it's nice to hear a real bass sing this music!) and the under-recorded Judith Blegen is a joy to hear. Third, the sound on this 1981 recording is simply the best I've heard- open, detailed, but never bright, with a wonderful sense of space around the performers. Don't hesitate.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best Messiah, May 15, 2002

By 

Robert Sherman (Gaithrsburg MD) - See all my reviews

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

Of my more than 30 Messiahs, this is the one I'd take without hesitation to the proverbial desert island. Westenberg and his forces have clearly studied the best of what went before -- Shaw, Davis, Mackerras -- and built on them. The orchestra, the chorus, Westenberg's conception, and the recorded sound are all as good as it gets, from the very first note of the overture.

Soprano Judith Blegen is unusually powerful and uses larger dynamics than her competitors, and she does it superbly. Her baroque taste is impeccable, as is her technique; hers is a Messiah perspective everyone should hear, particularly those who insist on thin reedy sound as proof of "authenticity". Tenor John Aler is better recorded than on his other effort with Andrew Davis, and is neck-and-neck with Philip Langridge for best Messiah tenor ever. Bass John Cheek has a large dark sound, fine technique, and great sincerity. Only the alto is forgettable.

This is a work of love, and I love it. There are other recordings that are better here, better there. But overall, none of them come close to this.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Audiophile Messiah!, February 24, 2008

By 

Ryan Kouroukis "In 1882 Richard Wagner said: ... - See all my reviews

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

This is the best Messiah in sound quality. It's astonishing that sound quality like this could be done in the early 80's... I would have to say better than Decca in the 60's!

As for the performance, it's just as astounding! This is chamber forces here (chorus and orch.), but the recording engineering makes it sound larger than life! It's big band Handel with ornaments without being pretentious.

The most important thing about this Messiah after the sound quality is the diction and singing of the chorus and soloists. Their words jump out of the orchestra at you with such ease, you don't strain any kind of muscle fibre to understand! It's something I've never experienced in any Messiah.

It is one for the desert island! WOW!