| RECORDINGS |
|
| LABEL: |
ESSENTIAL
CLASSICS |
| CATALOG
NUMBER: |
UNKNOWN |
| UPC
NUMBER: |
UNKNOWN |
| NUMBER OF DISCS: |
1 |
| RUNNING TIME: |
55:31 |
| YEAR
RECORDED: |
2006 |
| CD
RELEASE
DATE: |
2013 |
| CONDUCTOR: |
MARTIN
BIGGS |
| ORCHESTRA: |
THE
SIR
JAMES HENDERSON ORCHESTRA |
| CHOIR: |
THE
SIR
JAMES HENDERSON CHOIR |
| SOPRANO: |
DOINA
PALADE |
| CONTRALTO: |
N/A |
| TENOR: |
N/A |
| BASS: |
N/A |
|
| AUDIO SAMPLES |
HIGHLIGHTS |
OTHER
RELEASES |
|
NONE |
NONE |
|
DISC ONE
1. Messiah, HWV 56:
"Overture" 3:29
2. Messiah, HWV 56: "And the
Glory" 2:59
3. Messiah, HWV 56: "Behold a
Virgin" 0:31
4. Messiah, HWV 56: "O Thou that
Tellest" 5:49
5. Messiah, HWV 56: "For unto us a Child
is Born" 4:47
6. Messiah, HWV 56: "There Were
Shepherds" 1:24
7. Messiah, HWV 56: "And Suddenly Glory to
God" 2:47
8. Messiah, HWV 56: "He Shall Feed his
Flock" 4:4
9. Messiah, HWV 56: "Behold the Lamb of
God" 2:49
10. Messiah, HWV 56:
"Surely" 2:42
11. Messiah, HWV 56: "Behold and
See" 1:39
12. Messiah, HWV 56:
"Hallelujah" 5:13
13. Messiah, HWV 56: "I Know that my
Redeemer Liveth" 6:44
14. Messiah, HWV 56: "Since by Man Came
Death" 2:02
15. Messiah, HWV 56: "Worthy is the Lamb
that Was Slain" 3:41
16. Messiah, HWV 56:
"Amen" 4:12
|
|
SITE RATING: 1/10
SITE
REVIEW: This 2006 highlights disc,
performed by The Sir James Henderson Choir
and Orchestra, and under the direction of
Martin Biggs, is an odd choice for a Messiah
release. The choir and orchestra are a
school choir, from The Sir James Henderson
British School of Milan (Italy), and
although the orchestra and choir are
certainly a cut above what might pass for a
public school choir and orchestra, still
suffer from the ragged, sloppy presentation
which you would find at any public
institution. According to its website,
the school’s population consists of nearly
fifty percent Italians, with approximately
twenty percent from England and the rest
from other nationalities. With a total
student population of only ninety pupils, it
really doesn’t have a large enough base with
which to draw a sterling choral or orchestra
force, but nevertheless prides itself on
their classical program enough to not only
perform Handel’s Messiah, but possesses the
chutzpah to tour with it as well. The
soprano soloist Doina Palade (the sole one
present) is apparently the mother of one of
the students, and her wide, chesty tone,
unsteady melismas, and forced presentation
leaves much to be desired. Similarly,
the choir is completely amateurish,
sometimes sounding passable, but on some
choruses (“For Unto Us A Child Is Born” and
“Glory To God”) completely inept. Why
anyone would want to publicly release (and
charge money for!) this remarkably poor
recording is beyond my understanding.
Strained voices, horribly flat tones, and
omnipresent audience noise make this a
Messiah worth missing, even for ardent
collectors.
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