SITE RATING: 7/10
SITE
REVIEW: Another rare
recording I stumbled across, this 2001 live
capture by the Portland Baroque Orchestra
& Chorus, under the baton of Monica
Huggett is a full 78 minutes highlights disc,
retaining thirty of the movements, but which
has a couple of odd programming choices.
It's one of the few Messiah recordings
which omits the opening tenor arias of
"Comfort Ye" and "Every Valley" - instead
skipping to the alto recitative and air.
The Portland Baroque Orchestra and Chorus are
very good - the blend and unity of both are
admirable; they possessed at the time a lush,
creamy sound, which is captured here is good,
if muted, sound. There is audience noise
present, but it is rare. Among the
soloists, I'd never heard of any of them, but
they are quite good - mezzo-soprano Catherine
Robbin, as well as bass Peter Becker, both
have pleasant tones - but sound somewhat dull
and uninterested in their performance, giving
competent, but safe, readings. Soprano
Ann Monoyian is wonderful - a light, fluted
tone, with plenty of animation and fine
technique - my favorite of them all.
Tenor David Vanderwal is also fine - he has a
brilliant tone, and a regal manner to his
readings that make me miss his opening
arias. The Chorus is nicely delineated
in their choruses, giving brilliant
performances. My biggest quibble with
this recording are the tempos, which despite
having so many on the disc, still sound oddly
blasé - highly controlled and too mannered for
my tastes. Still, overall, this is a
fine recording, with many high points, and
worth seeking out for collectors.
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