Messiah

George Frideric Handel (Composer), Otto Klemperer (Conductor), Philharmonia Orchestra of London (Orchestra), Elizabeth Schwartzkopf (Performer), Nicolai Gedda (Performer), Jerome Hines (Performer), Grace Hoffmann (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Elizabeth Schwartzkopf, Nicolai Gedda, Jerome Hines, Grace Hoffmann
• Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra of London
• Conductor: Otto Klemperer
• Composer: George Frideric Handel
• Audio CD (September 12, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 3
• Label: Angel Records
• ASIN: B000002S20
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #87,127 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Big and huge Messiah!, March 28, 2004

By 

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

This review is from: Messiah (Audio CD)

If you like your Messiah to be big and huge then this one is it my friends! Unfortunatly the bozos at EMI have discontinued it.
The opening and closing moments are something to marvel at, and the stereo sound is great. With every aria or recitative in Klemperer's Messiah, he has you listening with great attention (at least for me anyway). The cast is so good, and you can tell that they really wanted to make this a great recording. The Philharmonia chorus is directed by Wilhelm Pitz (from the Bayreuth Festival). They sing with the power and thunder of a volcano, and the sweet hush of a spring breeze. Mind you, with full, clean and clear articulation.
The overall interpretation is so arch-like that it is similar to the way Klemperer does Bach's Mass in B. It's really rare how well he understands the score compared to the millions of cheap Messiah's recordings out there!

This Klemp character never ceases to amaze me, and this Messiah I will now place at the top of my Messiah's list.

This Messiah is only for those who like their Messiah's grand and noble, and played with great stength. Not at all for the period performance lover with period style practice. This is for Klemp lovers who want to love Klemp even more!

If you ever find it, I highly recommend getting it!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent recording, November 26, 2001

By 

Roberto Gonzalez "Robriv" (Buffalo, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Messiah (Audio CD)

This "Messiah" recording is magnificent. Nicolai Gedda sounds better than ever and eventhough I believe Elizabeth's voice is kind of heavy for Handel, she does a great job. But the one that really impresses me the most everytime I listen to the recording is Jerome Hines. His bass voice is so wonderful. The LOW notes are so clear and even brilliant and his top register is great too. I know it's a very difficult recording to find because it has been out of print for a long time...Good luck to all of you that are trying to find it. Try also "Messiah" with Joan Sutherland. It is great!!! Best wishes always, Rob

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Grand old Messiah recording, December 1, 2001

By 

klavierspiel "klavierspiel" (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Messiah (Audio CD)

Otto Klemperer's authority drives this recording of Messiah from the sixties. The chorus and orchestra are topnotch, though the general approach by today's standards is somewhat heavy and opaque in texture and tempo. The singers, all internationally known names, were at differing stages in their respective careers--Gedda and Hines were at their peak, while Schwarzkopf's best years were behind her. Although she sings with her characteristic commitment and her English diction is impeccable, she is forced to take some intrusive breaths in the roulades of "Rejoice Greatly." Her fans (of which I am not one) nevertheless will want this recording. Fans of Messiah as a whole also need to know that the cuts that were traditional for many years are all taken--thus there is no "Let All the Angels of God Worship Him (chorus)," "Thou are gone up on high (aria)," "O Death, where is thy sting? (duet)" among other numbers, some of which modern audiences have discovered are among the most beautiful and important in the oratorio. With this big caveat, this recording is still worth hearing for the conducting and most of the singing.