Handel: Messiah

George Frederick Handel (Composer), Angus Davidson (Performer), Scholars Baroque Ensemble (Performer), Helen Parker (Performer), Kym Amps (Performer), John Bowen (Performer), Robin Doveton (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Angus Davidson, Scholars Baroque Ensemble, Helen Parker, Kym Amps, John Bowen, et al.
• Composer: George Frederick Handel
• Audio CD (February 15, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Naxos
• ASIN: B0000273PY
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #367,337 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

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

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

3. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. Aria. Ev'ry valley shall be exalted

4. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. Chorus. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed

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

6. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. Aria. But who may abide the day of His coming

7. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. Chorus. And He shall purify the sons of Levi

8. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. Recitative. Behold a virgin shall conceive

9. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 1. Aria. O thou that tellest good things to Zion

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

See all 24 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. Recitative. All they that see Him laugh Him to scorn

2. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. Chorus. He trusted in God that He would deliver Him

3. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. Recitative. Thy rebuke hath broken His heart

4. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. Arioso. Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto His sorrow

5. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. Recitative. He was cut off out of the land of the living

6. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. Aria. But thou didst not leave His soul in Hell

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

8. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. Recitative. Unto which of the angels said He at any time

9. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. Chorus. Let all the angels of God worship Him

10. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56: Part 2. Aria. Thou art gone up high

See all 24 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Format: 49 tracks, 2 Audio CDsRun Time: 141 minutesPublisher: NAXOS of AmericaISBN: 0-730099566728

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A decent performance, September 14, 2005

By 

Jose Molina (Quito, Ecuador, South America) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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

When I was looking for a recording of Haendel's Messiah, this was the first one I bought. At first I loved it, but when I got the Boston Baroque Orchestra recording, I noticed the many flaws this one has. The only highlight: David Van Asch singing "But who may abide", based on the original version. Other recordings use a more recent version, more dramatical and written for a mezzosoprano, but it can't compare with the original for bass.

If you are a fan of baroque music in general, and specially Haendel, skip this one. You will be disappointed.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable small scale Messiah, December 1, 2011

By 

Steven Guy (Croydon, South Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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

I was recently listening to this recording again and I enjoyed it. The Scholars Baroque Ensemble follows the original Dublin version - loosely.
It is a small scale and nimble performances. I like this approach and it is refreshing to hear after all the pompous overblown versions of this work.

Distribution of voices and instruments:
4 Sopranos
3 Countertenors
4 Tenors
3 Basses
7 Violinists
2 Violists
1 'Cellist
1 Violonist
2 Trumpeters
Timpanist
1 keyboard continuoist (on harpsichord and organ)

The soloists are drawn from the choir. Period instruments are used and played with style and skill.

It's a cheap recording, being on NAXOS of course, but it is worth more than what you will pay for it. There are many recordings of "Messiah: A Sacred Oratorio" on the market and this recording offers something different from most of them.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautifully, December 14, 2005

By 

Don M. Hulbert (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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

The playing and singing for this version of Handel's best known oratorio, "The Messiah", are quite stylish, rendered with a great deal of rhythmic vitality. The purity of the singing (both choral and solo) is quite stunning. The arioso/recitative "Comfort ye my People" is especially beautiful. All around, a very satisfying recording.