Handel: Messiah

Handel: Messiah

by John Eliot GardinerJohn Eliot Gardiner

Overview

Sir John Eliot Gardiner's triumphant period instrument version can be confidently mentioned in the same breath with any of the great "Messiah" recordings of the past. In fact, in many ways it is the most completely satisfying "Messiah" ever released. Using the reduced performing forces and older instruments that are common to almost every "Messiah" recording of the last couple of decades, Gardiner nevertheless projects almost all of the oratorio's size and significance in a performance that is still very intimate in its physical dimensions and sound. The soloists are all intelligent and musical; the chorus (for which Gardiner wisely opted for female sopranos instead of the more "authentic" boys' voices) sings with joy and devotion; and the English Baroque Soloists play with great precision and high-minded intensity, while giving the unmistakable impression that they're having an enormous amount of fun. While nothing could ever make me part with my well-worn recordings by Beecham and Mackerras, Gardiner's exultant performance now joins that select circle of "Messiahs" I cannot do without.

Product Details

Release Date: 01/14/2003
Label: Philips
UPC: 0028943429726
catalogNumber: 434297
Rank: 11517

Tracks

  1. Messiah, oratorio, HWV 56

    1. Part 1. No. 1. Sinfonia  (02:52)
    2. Part 2. No. 19. Coro. Behold the Lamb of God  (02:39)
    3. Part 3. No. 40. Aria. I know that my Redeemer liveth  (06:26)
    4. Part 1. No. 2. Accompagnato. Comfort ye, my people / No. 3. Aria. Ev'ry valley shall be exalted  (05:30)
    5. Part 2. No. 20. Aria. He was despised  (10:12)
    6. Part 3. No. 41. Coro. Since by man came death  (01:58)
    7. Part 1. No. 4. Coro. And the glory of the Lord  (02:40)
    8. Part 2. No. 21. Coro. Surely, He hath borne our griefs / No. 22. Coro. And with His stripes / No. 2  (08:04)
    9. Part 3. No. 42. Accompagnato. Behold, I tell you a mystery  (00:28)
    10. Part 1. No. 5. Accompagnato. Thus saith the Lord / No. 6. Aria. But who may abide / No. 7. Coro. An  (07:57)
    11. Part 2. No. 24. Accompagnato. All they that see Him / No. 25. Coro. He trusted in God  (03:00)
    12. Part 3. No. 43. Aria. The trumpet shall sound  (08:17)
    13. Part 1. No. 7a. Recitativo. Behold a virgin shall conceive / No. 8. Aria. O thou that tellest good  (06:01)
    14. Part 2. No. 26. Accompagnato. Thy rebuke hath broken His heart / No. 27. Arioso. Behold, and see  (03:03)
    15. Part 3. No. 44a. Recitativo. Then shall be brought to pass / No. 44b. Duetto. O death, where is thy  (04:21)
    16. Part 1. No. 9. Accompagnato. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth / No. 10. Aria. The people  (05:33)
    17. Part 2. No. 28. Accompagnato. He was cut off / No. 29. Aria. But Thou didst not leave  (02:21)
    18. Part 3. No. 46. Aria. If God be for us  (05:04)
    19. Part 1. No. 11. Coro. For unto us a Child is born  (04:02)
    20. Part 2. No. 30. Coro. Lift up your heads  (02:56)
    21. Part 3. No. 47. Coro. Worthy is the Lamb... Amen.  (07:27)
    22. Part 1. No. 12. Pifa - Sinfonia pastorale / No. 12a. Recitativo. There were shepherds / No. 13. Acc  (05:28)
    23. Part 2. No. 31a. Recitativo. Unto which of the angels / No. 31b. Coro. Let all the angels of God  (01:39)
    24. Part 1. No. 16. Aria. Rejoice greatly  (04:10)
    25. Part 2. No. 32. Aria. Thou art gone up on high  (03:15)
    26. Part 1. No. 16a. Recitativo. Then shall the eyes of the blind  (00:21)
    27. Part 2. No. 33. Coro. The Lord gave the word  (01:08)
    28. Part 1. No. 17. Duetto. He shall feed His flock  (04:27)
    29. Part 2. No. 34a. Aria (alternative version). How beautiful are the feet  (02:16)
    30. Part 1. No. 18. Coro. His yoke is easy  (02:00)
    31. Part 2. No. 35a. Coro (alternative version). Their sound is gone out  (01:15)
    32. Part 2. No. 36. Aria. Why do the nations?  (02:34)
    33. Part 2. No. 37. Coro. Let us break their bonds asunder  (01:34)
    34. Part 2. No. 37a. He that dwelleth in heaven / No. 38. Aria. Thou shallt break them  (02:10)
    35. Part 2. No. 39. Coro. Hallelujah  (03:47)

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