| RECORDINGS |
|
| LABEL: |
HYPERION |
| CATALOG
NUMBER: |
CDD22019 |
| UPC
NUMBER: |
034571120195 |
| NUMBER OF DISCS: |
2 |
| RUNNING TIME: |
140:40 |
| YEAR
RECORDED: |
DECEMBER,
1986 |
| CD
RELEASE DATE: |
SEPTEMBER
9, 1997 |
| CONDUCTOR: |
HARRY
CHRISTOPHERS |
| ORCHESTRA: |
THE
SIXTEEN ORCHESTRA |
| CHOIR: |
THE
SIXTEEN CHOIR |
| SOPRANO: |
LYNNE
DAWSON |
| CONTRALTO: |
CATHERINE
DENLEY |
| COUNTERTENOR: |
DAVID
JAMES |
| TENOR: |
MALDWYN
DAVIES |
| BASS: |
MICHAEL GEORGE |
|
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DISC ONE
1. Part 1. Symphony
2. Part 1. Comfort ye my people
3. Part 1. Every valley shall be exalted
4. Part 1. And the glory of the Lord shall
be revealed
5. Part 1. Thus saith the Lord of hosts
6. Part 1. But who may abide the day of
his coming?
7. Part 1. And he shall purify the sons of
Levi
8. Part 1. Behold, a virgin shall
conceive, and bear a son
9. Part 1. O thou that tellest good
tidings to Zion
10. Part 1. For behold, darkness shall
cover the earth
11. Part 1. The people that walked in
darkness have seen a great light
12. Part 1. For unto us a child is born
13. Part 1. Pifa (Pastoral Symphony)
14. Part 1. There were shepherds, abiding
in the field
15. Part 1. And lo, the angel of the Lord
came upon them
16. Part 1. And the angel said unto them,
fear not
17. Part 1. And suddenly there was with
the angel a multitude
18. Part 1. Glory to God in the highest
19. Part 1. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of
Zion
20. Part 1. Then shall the eyes of the
blind be opened
21. Part 1. He shall feed his flock like a
shepherd
22. Part 1. His yoke is easy and his
burthen is light
23. Part 2. Behold the Lamb of God
Listen
24. Part 2. He was despised and rejected
of men
|
DISC TWO
1. Part 2. Surely he hath borne our
griefs
2. Part 2. And with his stripes we are
healed
3. Part 2. All we like sheep have gone
astray
4. Part 2. All they that see him laugh him
to scorn
5. Part 2. He trusted in God that he would
deliver him
6. Part 2. Thy rebuke hath broken his
heart
7. Part 2. Behold and see if there be any
sorrow like unto his sorrow
8. Part 2. He was cut off out of the land
of the living
9. Part 2. But thou didst not leave his
soul in hell
10. Part 2. Lift up your heads, O ye gates
11. Part 2. Unto which of the angels said
he at any time?
12. Part 2. Let all the angels of God
worship him
13. Part 2. Thou art gone up on high
14. Part 2. The Lord gave the word
15. Part 2. Their sound is gone out into
all lands
16. Part 2. Why do the nations so
furiously rage together?
17. Part 2. Let us break their bonds
asunder
18. Part 2. He that dwelleth in heavan
shall laugh them to scorn
19. Part 2. Thou shalt break them with a
rod of iron
20. Part 2. Hallelujah, for the lord God
omnipotent reigneth
21. Part 3. I know that my Redeemer liveth
22. Part 3. Since by man came death
23. Part 3. Behold, I tell you a mystery
24. Part 3. Then shall be brought to pass
25. Part 3. O Death, where is thy sting?
26. Part 3. But thanks be to God who
giveth us the victory
27. Part 3. If God be for us, who can be
against us?
28. Part 3. Worthy is the Lamb that was
slain
29. Part 3. Amen
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SITE RATING: 7/10
SITE
REVIEW: This first Messiah
recording by Harry Christophers and The
Sixteen Choir and Orchestra was recorded
in 1986, and followed the then-new trend of
small-scale forces and quicker, lighter tempi.
This recording has always struck me as
strangely self-conscious, as if the singers
and players are all distinctly aware of just
how precise and controlled they are performing
together, and immensely pleased with
themselves. It's a difficult feeling to
explain, or defend; nevertheless, I feel each
time that I hear this recording that this is a
'vain' Messiah, something that's completely
out of keeping with the libretto's message of
a coming Savior and Redeemer. Since this
recording, Harry Christophers and The Sixteen
have formed their own record label: Coro, and
released a second
recording, which I find measurably
warmer and more accessible. There is no
denying the remarkable control and beauty of
all the performers, with special attention to
soprano Lynne Dawson, who give an ethereal
performance; but in the battle of the Messiahs,
this one rates lower with me, due it its
emotional distance and chill. ~ BDW
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