RECORDINGS

LABEL: DANICA RECORDS
CATALOG NUMBER: UNKNOWN
UPC NUMBER: 034060000120
NUMBER OF DISCS: 2
RUNNING TIME: 141:52
YEAR RECORDED: 1997?
CD RELEASE DATE: JANUARY 1, 1998
CONDUCTOR: MICHAEL BOJESEN
ORCHESTRA: CAMERATA ORCHESTRA
CHOIR: CAMERATA CHOIR
SOPRANO: INGER DAM-JENSEN
ALTO: KIRSTEN DOLBERG
TENOR: PETER GRONLUND
BASS: PER HOYER
AUDIO SAMPLES HIGHLIGHTS OTHER RELEASES

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DISC ONE

1. Sinfonia    4:06
2. Comfort Ye My People    3:07
3. Ev'ry Valley Shall Be Exalted    3:25
4. And The Glory Of The Lord    2:48
5. Thus Saith The Lord Of Hosts    1:34
6. But Who May Abide    4:26
7. And He Shall Purify The Sons Of Levi    2:05
8. Behold, A Virgin Shall Conceive    00:31
9. O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings    5:14
10. For Behold, Darkness Shall Cover The Earth    2:33
11. The People That Walked In Darkness    3:39
12. For Unto Us A Child Is Born    3:47
13. Sinfonia Pastorale    2:47
14. There Were Shepherds Abiding    00:33
15. And The Angel Said Unto Them    00:37
16. And Suddenly There Was    00:19
17. Glory To God In The Highest    1:54
18. Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter Of Zion    4:11
19. Then Shall The Eyes    00:31
20. He Shall Feed His Flock    5:07
21. His Yoke Is Easy    2:09
22. Behold The Lamb Of God    3:31
23. He Was Despised And Rejected    9:12
24. Surely, He Hath Borne Our Griefs    1:57
25. And With His Stripes We Are Healed    2:35
26. All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray    3:57
 DISC TWO

27. All They That See Him    00:43
28. He Trusted In God    2:14
29. Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart    1:55
30. Behold, And See    1:24
31. He Was Cut Off Out Of The Land    00:21
32. But Thou Didst Not Leave    2:06
33. Lift Up Your Heads    2:58
34. Unto Which Of The Angels    00:18
35. Left All The Angels Of God    1:25
36. Thou Art Gone Up On High    3:03
37. The Lord Gave The Word    1:16
38. How Beautiful Are The Feet    2:04
39. Their Sound Is Gone Out    1:38
40. Why Do The Nations So Furiously    2:56
41. Let Us Break Their Bonds    1:45
42. He That Dwelleth In Heaven    00:15
43. Thou Shalt Break Them    2:02
44. Hallelujah    3:56    1.40 USD
45. I Know What My Reedemer Liveth    5:31
46. Since By Man Came Death    2:24
47. Behold, I Tell You A Mystery    00:38
48. The Trumpet Shall Sound    9:10
49. Then Shall Be Brought To Pass    00:21
50. O Death, Where Is Thy Sting?    1:09
51. But Thanks Be To God    2:01
52. If God Is For Us    4:26
53. Worthy Is The Lamb    3:20
54. Amen    3:58
SITE RATING:  7/10
SITE REVIEW:  Danish composer and conductor Michael Bojesen, who conducted the CAMERATA Chamber Choir & Orchestra from 1989-2006, (and who as of this writing, is chief conductor of the DR Radio Girls' Choir) conducted this English-language, complete version of Messiah, which was made available on Danish label Danica Records.  This Messiah is a strong, energetic reading, with loads of power and passion given by all the performers.  The soloists are strong, although the biting nature of their performances leads to some piercing tones, with soprano Inger Dam-Jensen a little acidic in her arias, alto Kirsten Dolberg dark and intense, tenor Peter Gronlund a heroic, fiery presence, and bass Per Hoyer a little terrifying with his vibrant tone and demonic performance. This intensity, fueled no doubt by Bojesen, unfortunately leads to a sustained program of rushed tempos, with some moments electrified and energized (a brisk, triumphant "Hallelujah"), but several others simply frantic (an out-of-control "Let Us Break Their Bonds").  I would have preferred some moments of calm and solace during "I Know That My Redeemer Liveth" but even that superlative aria is taken at a moderate tempo, stripping it of it's natural spirituality.  The sound of the Camerata Choir and Orchestra is rich and pure, but drowned in the echo-y accoustic, which muddies the waters.  Still, I found much to admire with this recording, and if you can acquire it, it's worth hearing.

The Compleat Messiah All Content Copyright © 2010 Bret D. Wheadon
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