Customer Reviews

Handel: Messiah

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

 

 

I was really surprised with the new that the Messiah's New World premiere was held at Trinity Church in October 1770, twenty-eight years after it was written. This fact only will make one proud in having this CD among his collection.

Anyhow, this is nothing more than a historic detail and would not count if this recording had not an outstanding first-rate ensemble of singers. Without doubt there is no definitive version of Messiah. Each one has its own distinctive touch and feeling and exploring it is always a pleasant journey through imagination.

As stated by the conductor: "we must concede that performing Messiah with twenty singers and an appropriately balanced instrumental ensemble represents, at best, an imperfect comprimise", it will be easy to understand that this recording does not stand among the greatest and will probably carry some imperfections. I will mention two that kind of disppointed me a little bit. The Overture and the Chorus Worthy is the Lamb, for some reason misses the habitual vigor and strenght. Everything else is great and this is definitely a worth buying.

As mentioned above, this recording was made in Trinity Church on Wall Street, New York, where The Messiah had its North American premiere in 1770. But that is not the only matter of historical significance to be noted here.
This recording was made in 1999, released in time for Easter, when I first heard it previewed on the radio with an interview with the conductor, Dr. Owen Burdick. (Owen was a classmate of mine at SUNY Purchase, where he kept a harpsichord under his bed in what had been my room the previous year. But that was a long time ago.) I have seen Owen several times since, and I have sung operas at Trinity and its sister, St. Paul's Chapel.
I was struck by the clarity of the small group of young choristers and the precision of diction, as well as the rightness of the tempi; I resolved to buy a copy as soon as possible an did so.
One and a half years later occurred the horrendous tragedy of the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, only a few blocks away from Trinity Church. (The Twin Towers appear behind the church on the cover photograph.) While it became impossible to clear the dust and debris from Trinity's organ, Owen and his choristers, from which the soloists are drawn, were still able to arrange a performance with orchestra and a portable organ, which was broadcast on WQXR radio. That performance, freighted as it was with such profound emotional weight, was the greatest experience of this oratorio I have ever had. I stood on the edge of the mighty Palisades, looking downstream at where the towers had stood, when the sudden crash of the tympani began the final Amen Chorus, and tears flowed from my eyes. I could clearly see the tongues of flame dance above the musicians heads in my mind. Trinity's annual Messiah broadcasts have become a New York tradition.
This recording is not so emotionally fraught, but is still an exceptional souvenir, one of four Messiah recordings I cherish; Gardiner's and Marriner's (the later London version), and even Brrcham's being the other three. There are other particular New York touches: for example,the alto aria "But who may abide" is given to the bass as it was here in 1770, not the alternate bass aria from Handel's London version.
As stated above, there is no definitive performance of The Messiah, just as there is no definitive performing version. But Dr. Burdick's choices are musically sound, his artists are fresh and fervent, and their collective passion is evident.
This is a fine addition to any collection, not only as an only or additional recording of a masterpiece, but as a testament to the history of the Greatest City in the World, before history changed us forever.

I do not pretend to be any sort of an expert when it comes to the different CD versions of Messiah. I have many of them, because I enjoy the music.

There is something about this CD though. A purity of notes. An unaffected singing. Whatever it is, I have enjoyed listening, very very much. It is as if the music is all new again. I am delighted.

There are so many performances of the Messiah out there that it is very difficult to point to a difinative one, but I'd put this in the catagory of the "very good" ones. As other reviewers have said, every performance is different and has its own character. Each has stronger and weaker points. Here the conductor and musicians have made good, solid musical choices. There is an amazing attention to detail which is not so obvious the first listen through but which makes the piece shine. The tempos seem to be right on, and there is no frivolous over-embellishment by the soloists. There is no attempt to be showey. The dramatic dynamics in the first section of the overture are interesting, but seem to work after you hear it a few times. This performance also includes sections which are often omitted (Second half of "He shall feed his flock," "Thou art gone up on high," "Great was the company of the preachers," and "Death where is thy sting"). I prefer the more intimate quality of a small ensemble of musicians to the mega-performances by the London Philharmonic, Vienna State Opera Orchestra, etc.. As with this performance, the smaller group lends a clarity to the music, where the larger ensembles can get a little "muddy" at times. Just my personal preference. Overall, this is a very good performance, and certainly the low price (being on the Naxos lable) makes this a clear choice.

I've hunted a thrilling performance of The Messiah through 240 versions so far. This is the best I've found. Some are self-conscious, dutifully singing as instructed. Some are almost childish in their lilt. Some are overblown with so much bombast that you can barely hear the heart of the music. Some are concentrated on faithfulness to the original instruments. If you want a performance that will make you shiver with the power and joy of the music, this is the one. The singers are singing about GLORY. They sound as if they are ecstatic. The musicians are at one with the music and they create a virtual cathedral wherever this CD is played, just close your eyes. Or, let your own imagery, be it celestial, or of great oceans...carry you away.

I was more interested in "The Messiah" for the religious content than as a music critic, but this was too much. The strings are tinny. The orchestra is plodding. The soloists and choir are thankfully very good and seem to understand the meaning of the words. It is a shame the sound mix is uneven. The male parts come across loud and clear, but the poor women. For instance, No. 9 Oh thou that tellest..., the soloist sounded like she was singing in an echo chamber far from the mike. This is one of the most disappointing versions of "The Messiah" I have heard in a long time.