| RECORDINGS |
|
| LABEL: |
PENTATONE
|
| CATALOG
NUMBER: |
PTC 5186 853
|
| UPC
NUMBER: |
827949085569
|
| NUMBER OF DISCS: |
2
|
| RUNNING TIME: |
83:55
|
| YEAR
RECORDED: |
2020?
|
| CD
RELEASE DATE: |
SEPTEMBER 1, 2020
|
| CONDUCTOR: |
JUSTIN DOYLE
|
| ORCHESTRA: |
AKADEMIE FUR ALTE MUSIK
BERLIN
|
| CHOIR: |
RIAS KAMMERCHOR BERLIN
|
| SOPRANO: |
JULIA DOYLE
|
| ALTO: |
TIM MEAD
|
| TENOR: |
THOMAS HOBBS
|
| BASS: |
RODERICK WILLIAMS
|
|
|
| AUDIO SAMPLES |
HIGHLIGHTS |
OTHER
RELEASES |
NONE
|
NONE
|
NONE
|
|
DISC ONE
Part I
1) Symphony 2.52
2) Comfort ye (Accompagnato) 2.47
3) Ev'ry valley shall be exalted (Air)
3.13
4) And the glory of the Lord shall be
revealed (Chorus) 2. 36
5) Thus saith the Lord of Hosts
(Accompagnato) 1.21
6) But who may abide the day of His coming
(Air) 4.13
7) And He shall purify the sons of Levi
(Chorus) 2.22
8) Behold, a virgin shall conceive
(Recitative) 0.29
9) O thou that tellest good tidings to
Zion (Air) 5.15
10) For behold, darkness shall cover the
earth (Accompagnato) 1.43
11) The people that walked in darkness
have seen a great light (Air) 3.45
12) For unto us a Child is born (Chorus)
3.55
13) Pifa (Pastoral Symphony) 0.56
14) There where shepherds abiding in the
field (Recitative) 0.10
15) And lo, the angel of the Lord came
upon them (Accompagnato) 0.23
16) And the angel said unto them
(Recitative) 0.31
17) And suddenly there was with the angel
(Accompagnato) 0.15
18) Glory to God in the highest (Chorus)
1.49
19) Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion
(Air) 4.12
20) Then shall the eyes of the blind be
open'd (Recitative) 0.25
21) He shall feed His flock like a
shepherd (Duet) 4.50
22) His yoke is easy (Chorus) 2.20
|
DISC TWO
Part II
1) Behold the Lamb of God (Chorus) 2.42
2) He was despised (Air) 10.07
3) Surely, He hath borne our griefs
(Chorus) 1.39
4) And with His stripes we are healed
(Chorus) 1.45
5) All we, like sheep, have gone astray
(Chorus) 3.31
6) All they that see Him (Accompagnato)
0.40
7) He trusted in God (Chorus) 2.23
8) Thy rebuke hath broken His heart
(Accompagnato) 1.31
9) Behold, and see (Arioso) 1.23
10) He was cut off (Accompagnato) 0.14
11) But Thou didst not leave (Air) 2.08
12) Lift up your heads (Chorus) 3.06
13) Unto which of the angels (Recitative)
0.17
14) Let all the angels of God worship Him
(Chorus) 1.28
15) Thou art gone up on high (Air) 3.02
16) The Lord gave the word (Chorus) 1.06
17) How beautiful are the feet of them
(Air) 2.10
18) Their sound is gone out into all lands
(Chorus) 1.22
19) Why do the nations (Air) 2.40
20) Let as break their bonds asunder
(Chorus) 1.50
21) He that dwelleth in heaven
(Recitative) 0.12
22) Thou shalt break them (Air) 1.53
23) Hallelujah (Chorus) 3.36
Part III
24) I know that my Redeemer liveth (Air)
6.01
25) Since by man came death (Chorus) 2.13
26) Behold, I tell you a mystery
(Accompagnato) 0.31
27) The trumpet shall sound (Air) 8.23
28) Then shall be brought to pass
(Recitative) 0.17
29) O death, where is thy sting? (Duet)
1.02
30) But thanks be to God (Chorus) 2.09
31) If God be for us (Air) 4.58
32) Worthy is the lamb that was slain -
Amen (Chorus) 7.16
|
|
SITE RATING: 9/10
SITE
REVIEW: My biggest
question about the appearance of this Messiah
in 2020 is, WHEN and HOW was it recorded in
this year of social distancing and
lockdowns? Being released so late in the
year, it must have been recorded either late
in 2019 or very early in this year. But
regardless, it's a very welcome addition to
the vast, and growing canon of recordings
which attempt to recreate the spirit, if not
the exact letter, of the first Dublin debut of
1742. I had a strong, constant sensation
while listening to this pristine, lush
performance of another one much like it;
namely, Sir
Neville Marriner's 1976 Messiah - which
it strongly hearkens back to in both technique
and sound. Although Marriner's Messiah
was a modern instrument recording, it too
sought to bring to life the debut performance,
and with very similar results. Justin
Doyle gives a rock-steady hand to the
proceedings, with both the Rias Kammerchor and
Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin giving stunning
performances, rich in vibrant playing, tone,
and exactness - it's thrilliing to hear such
expertise brought to play. The soloists,
all British, are also top-notch, with soprano
Julia Doyle, alto Tim Mead, tenor Thomas
Hobbs, and bass Roderick Williams equally
balanced in their excellent, persuasive
arias. I simply cannot fault any of them
in their respective timbres and
interpretations, which are universally
masterful - clean and thought-through.
The only reason this recording doesn't merit a
full score from me, is, as I implied earlier,
that like the 1976 Marriner edition, it all
feels so clean and precise and rich that it
lacks a touch of humanity. The overall
effect is one of a too-clean preciseness which
leaves it emotionally remote. Exquisite
style and performance - it lacks only a real,
heart-rending core - the honest 'cry of the
heart' which I always listen for. Well
worth adding to your collection.
|
|
