RECORDINGS

LABEL: ERATO
CATALOG NUMBER: UNKNOWN
UPC NUMBER: 0825646240555
NUMBER OF DISCS: 2
RUNNING TIME: UNKNOWN
YEAR RECORDED: 2013
CD RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 27, 2014
CONDUCTOR: EMMANUELLE HAÏM
ORCHESTRA: LE CONCERT D'ASTRÉE
CHOIR: LE CONCERT D'ASTRÉE
SOPRANO: LUCY CROWE
COUNTERTENOR: TIM MEAD
TENOR: ANDREW STAPLES
BASS: CHRISTOPHER PURVES

AUDIO SAMPLES HIGHLIGHTS OTHER RELEASES

NONE
DISC ONE
1. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 1: Grave - Allegro Moderato
2. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 1: "Comfort Ye My People" (Tenor)
3. Handel: Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 1: "Ev'Ry Valley Shall Be Exalted" (Tenor)
4. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 1: "And The Glory Of The Lord Shall Be Revealed" (Chorus)
5. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 1: "Thus Saith The Lord Of Hosts" (Bass)
6. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 1: "But Who May Abide The Day Of His Coming?" (Alto)
7. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 1: "And He Shall Purify" (Chorus)
8. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 1: "Behold, A Virgin Shall Conceive" (Alto)
9. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 1: "O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings To Zion" (Alto, Chorus)
10. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 1: "For Behold, Darkness Shall Cover The Earth" (Bass)
11. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 1: "The People That Walked In Darkness" (Bass)
12. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 1: "For Unto Us A Child Is Born" (Chorus)
13. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 1: Larghetto E Mezzo Piano
14. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 1: "There Were Shepherds Abiding In The Field" (Soprano)
15. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 1: "And Lo, The Angel Of The Lord Came Upon Them" (Soprano)
16. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 1: "And The Angel Said Unto Them" (Soprano)
17. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 1: "And Suddenly There Was With The Angel" (Soprano)
18. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 1: "Glory To God In The Highest" (Chorus)
19. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 1: "Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter Of Zion" (Soprano)
20. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 1: "Then Shall The Eyes Of The Blind Be Open'D" (Alto)
21. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 1:"He Shall Feed His Flock Like A Shepherd" (Alto, Soprano)
22. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 1: "His Yoke Is Easy, His Burthen Is Light" (Chorus)
23. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 2: "Behold The Lamb Of God" (Chorus)
24. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 2: "He Was Despised" (Alto)
 DISC TWO
1. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 2: "Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs" (Chorus)
2. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 2: "And With His Stripes We Are Healed" (Chorus)
3. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 2: "All We, Like Sheep, Have Gone Astray" (Chorus)
4. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 2: "All They That See Him Laugh Him To Scorn" (Tenor)
5. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 2: "He Trusted In God" (Chorus)
6. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 2: "Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart" (Tenor)
7. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 2: "Behold, And See, If There Be Any Sorrow" (Tenor)
8. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 2: "He Was Cut Off Out Of The Land Of The Living" (Tenor)
9. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 2: "But Thou Didst Not Leave His Soul In Hell" (Tenor)
10. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 2: "Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates" (Chorus)
11. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 2: "Unto Which Of The Angels Said He At Any Time" (Tenor)
12. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 2: "Let All The Angels Of God Worship Him" (Chorus)
13. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 2: "Thou Art Gone Up On High" (Alto)
14. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 2: "The Lord Gave The Word" (Chorus)
15. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 2: "How Beautiful Are The Feet" (Soprano)
16. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 2: "Their Sound Is Gone Out Into All Lands" (Chorus)
17. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 2: "Why Do The Nations So Furiously Rage Together" (Bass)
18. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 2: "Let Us Break Their Bonds Asunder" (Chorus)
19. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 2: "He That Dwelleth In Heaven" (Tenor)
20. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 2: "Thou Shalt Break Them With A Rod Of Iron" (Tenor)
21. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 2: "Hallelujah!" (Chorus)
22. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 3: "I Know That My Redeemer Liveth" (Soprano)
23. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 3: "Since By Man Came Death" (Chorus)
24. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 3: "Behold, I Tell You A Mystery" (Bass)
25. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 3: "The Trumpet Shall Sound" (Bass)
26. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 3: "Then Shall Be Brought To Pass The Saying" (Alto)
27. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 3: "O Death, Where Is Thy Sting?" (Alto, Tenor)
28. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 3: "But Thanks Be To God" (Chorus)
29. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 3: "If God Be For Us, Who Can Be Against Us?" (Soprano)
30. Messiah, Hwv 56, Part 3: "Worthy Is The Lamb That Was Slain" - Amen (Chorus)
SITE RATING:  8/10
SITE REVIEW:  A finely-polished Messiah, courtesy of Emmanuelle Haim and Le Concert d'Astrée, Erato clearly believes in the sonic quality of this audiophile CD, which is also available on a separate Super-Audio DSD disc.  The combined forces certainly contain plenty of plush style;  Haim gives this performance a carefully measured, precise reading, with special emphasis towards delicately-read phrases and exacting tempos.  In its precision and restraint, this recording reminded me strongly of Sir David Willcocks 1973 Messiah, with it's brittle stance.  Haim never pushes to that extreme with the Concert D'Astree, but the feeling of tightly reigned-in forces remains - all beautifully sung and played, but measured, and somewhat preoccupied with odd notational halts and breaks. 

Le Concert d'Astrée plays with luscious richness - while the chamber choir sound similarly beautiful - with clean, fluid lines and abundant lyricism.  The soloists are equally adept - bass Christopher Purves certainly knows how to interpret Baroque arias, and he's in top form here, giving dramatic heft to his readings.  Soprano Lucy Crowe has a rich bel canto, fruity and bright on her expert melismas, and effortless on showy high notes, although her quick in-and-out vibrato is occasionally distracting.  Countertenor Tim Mead is a bit hollow-sounding, but with a pure, clean tone, while tenor Andrew Staples's youthful, in-your-face tone I found too bright and credulous for my liking.  The recorded sound is admirable, with separation and clarity, yet not lacking in warmth.  I just wish the performance had more genuine warmth in it - so much effort has been given to the little details, they've missed the forest for the trees - it's like a finely-etched silver platter that's been polished and rubbed a bit TOO much.

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