Customer Reviews

Handel: Messiah

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4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.