SITE RATING: 10/10
SITE
REVIEW: For years,
this 1966 recording by Sir Colin Davis was the
standard bearer for Baroque enthusiasts; for
one thing, it eschewed the mammoth, heavy
forces that had come to define Messiah,
Davis used smaller forces and lighter tempos,
so, although the period-instrument renaissance
was still decades away, it was this recording
that was held up as what Messiah
could and should
be. And even today, it's a remarkably
resilient performance, holding up much better
than other recordings, either before or after.
Davis used light, dancing tempi, creating a
performance that felt far more joyful and
brilliant than those of his
then-contemporaries. The London Symphony
Orchestra and Chorus sound fresh and lively,
and the soloists were chosen for their
apparent youth and vitality - tenor John
Wakefield and bass John Shirley-Quirk are both
brilliant, even if, (in my opinion) they have
been surpassed stylistically by more recent
talent. But its hard to argue with the
force of contralto's Helen Watts fiery
performance on "But Who May Abide The Day Of
His Coming", Heather Harper's virtuoso singing
on "Rejoice greatly, o daughter of Zion."
Everything here sparkles and sings.
Some have complained over the sound
quality of Philips Duo release, and have
lauded the UK remaster, but to my ears, they
both sound splendid, and this performance is
easily recommended as an inexpensive first
choice for listeners, and an essential part of
any Messiah
collection.
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