Customer Reviews

Handel: Messiah

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Colin Davis and Philips made this recording in 1965 with forces Davis was very familiar with. Any collector who has sampled his Berlioz and Mozart opera and choral recordings form the 1960s and 1970s will certainly recognize any of the solists and tell you they are all up to the highest standards.

Unlike many Messiah recordings of its time, Davis elected to only use as many players and singers as would have been used in Handel's time. The orchestra uses traditional instruments, not period instruments. But by scaling down the size of the orchestra, the soloists are much more prominent, and the effect has greater subtlety than performances with larger forces that were common at the time.

That this recording has withstood the test of time is a testimony in itself to the merits it has. Philips certainly has the rights to one of the finest Messiah recordings ever in the set conducted by John Eliot Gardiner, but instead they elected this recording for their 50 year celebration, and I second the choice. Davis elicits ensemble unity from the orchestra, choir, and solists that I have rarely ever heard in Messiah.

Nice as the Gardiner is, this is by a longshot my first choice of a Messiah.

The recording was of demonstration quality on LP. And the first CD mastering wasn't bad either. I used it for many demonstrations when CDs were new. But was I stunned when I got this remastering. I didn't think it could possibly be improved, but I was totally wrong. The restoration is even more vivid, balanced, and lifelike than before, and there is nothing digitally phony about it.

Philips elected to not issue this in the USA, but thanks to Amazon it is available, at least at this writing. But get it now, for it will probably not last. Rumors has it that when first run copies of any of the Philips 50 series are sold, no additional copies are planned.

I've owned and loved this performance of the Messiah since its first release in the mid-Sixties. I'd hoped to hear it in good sound one day. The original LPs were somewhat muffled and thin. The first Philips digital release on CD--the same one being sold now as a two-fer in their Duo series--was still thin and had early-digital glare and harshness. It was only a half step forward.

Other reviewers extol this new 24 bit/ 96 hz remastering as the solution to all those earlier defects. to my ears it isn't. There is still a marked shrillness in the violins, and unless you play the music at low volume, solo voices are covered with a noticeable metallic sheen. It's unfortunate, but in other respects, especially clarity, this is the best reissue sonically, as everyone agrees.

Philips has done it right. The recording quality here is superb, far better than the two other CD releases of this performance, and even better than the Dutch vinyl pressing.

Musically, the star of this show is soprano Heather Harper. She recorded this at age 33 with profound devotion to Handel, fine ornamentation, flawless technique and diction, and pure but solid light-middleweight lyric soprano sound. It's a pleasure to hear the subtle but artful way she darkens her enunciation on the high notes to counterbalance the inevitably lighter tone quality up there. It's fascinating to compare this with her also fine but very different (darker sound, no ornamentation) recording with Jackson two years earlier.
Otherwise, the choral singing and orchestral playing have moments of greatness, particularly the overture and "Great was the company." The other soloists are not bad, but better is available. The Westenburg recording remains the all-time standard against which all others can be judged.

This was given as a gift for my sister. She loved it, and that's all that matters. There is such majesty and glory to Handel's Messiah, and this particular version, I think, is excellent!

This performance of Messiah is by far my favorite - all the soloists are overwhelming in their beauty and skill, and it is a "modern instrument" performance yet not souped up - complete, with real energy and excitement. The 60's recording stands up very well, especially in this wonderful transfer. Very highly recommended. Get to know the entire oratorio, if you have not done so.