| RECORDINGS |
|
| LABEL: |
ANGEL
/ EMI |
| CATALOG
NUMBER: |
63621 |
| UPC
NUMBER: |
077776362120 |
| NUMBER OF DISCS: |
3 |
| RUNNING TIME: |
146:00 |
| YEAR
RECORDED: |
1965 |
| CD
RELEASE DATE: |
SEPTEMBER
20, 1990 |
| CONDUCTOR: |
OTTO
KLEMPERER |
| ORCHESTRA: |
LONDON
PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA |
| CHOIR: |
LONDON
PHILHARMONIA CHORUS |
| SOPRANO: |
ELISABETH
SCHWARZKOPF |
| CONTRALTO: |
GRACE
HOFFMAN |
| TENOR: |
NICHOLAI
GEDDA |
| BASS: |
JEROME
HINES |
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DISC ONE
Part the First
1. Sinfony 4:37
2. Recitative: Comfort ye my people 3:30
3. Air: Ev'ry valley shall be exalted 4:02
4. Chorus: And the glory of the Lord 3:22
5. Recitative: Thus saith the Lord 1:50
6. Air: But who may abide the day of his
coming 5:34
7. Chorus: And he shall purify 2:49
8. Recitative: Behold, a virgin shall
conceive 0:28
9. Air: O thou that tellest good tidings
to Zion 5:35
10. Chorus: O thou that tellest good
tidings to Zion 2:28
11. Recitative: For behold, darkness shall
cover the earth 2:48
12. Air: The people that walked in
darkness 4:26
13. Chorus: For unto us a child is born
4:39
14. Pifa (Pastoral Symphony) 3:57
15. Recitative: There were shepherd
abiding in the fields 1:34
16. Chorus: Glory to God 2:15
17. Air: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of
Zion 5:00
18. Recitative: Then shall the eyes of the
blind be open'd 0:28
19. Air: He shall feed His flock like a
shepherd 5:28
20. Chorus: His yoke is easy, His burthen
is light 2:44
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DISC TWO
Part the Second
1. Chorus: Behold the Lamb of God 3:31
2. Air: He was despised and rejected of
men 10:07
3. Chorus: Surely, He hath borne our
griefs 2:48
4. Chorus: And with His stripes we are
healed 1:51
5. Chorus: All we like sheep have gone
astray 4:13
6. Recitative: All they that see Him,
laugh Him to scorn 1:03
7. Chorus: He trusted in God 2:44
8. Recitative: They rebuke hath broken His
heart 1:44
9. Arioso: Behold and see if there be any
sorrow 1:43
10. Recitative: He was cut off of the land
of the living 0:28
11. Air: But thou didst not leave His soul
in hell 2:55
12. Chorus: Lift up your heads, O ye gates
3:19
13. Chorus: The Lord gave the word 1:10
14. Air: How beautiful are the feet 2:23
15. Chorus: Their sound is gone out into
all lands 1:36
16. Air: Why do the nations so furiously
rage together 3:18
17. Chorus: Let us break their bonds
together 2:01
18. Recitative: He that dwelleth in Heaven
0:16
19. Air: Thou shalt break them with a rod
of iron 2:13
20. Chorus: Hallelujah, for the Lord God
Omnipotent reigneth 4:14
Part the Third
21. Air: I know that my Redeemer liveth
6:06
22. Chorus: Since by man came death 1:56
23. Recitative: Behold, I tell you a
mystery 0:31
24. Air: The trumpet shall sound 4:19
25. Chorus: Worthy is the Lamb 3:46
26. Chorus: Amen
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SITE RATING: 9/10
SITE
REVIEW: Klemperer's
1965 Messiah
is highly regarded among listeners who love
the large, grand, slow-moving performances
which dominated the 1970s and before.
And hearing it, it's easy to understand
why - although I generally prefer the lighter,
swifter performances, there is an undeniable
pleasure in hearing Messiah performed with such
majesty and grace - rather than dancing, this
Messiah
glides like a grand monarch, stately and
refined. To my ears, there are schools
within schools among any of the styles of Messiah -
comparing this one with Karl Richter's 1972
recording is illuminating - whereas Richter's
Messiah
was somewhat hard-edged and Germanic in its
staunch rhythms and square-shouldered
attitude, Klemperer's performance is much
warmer, with a proud and stately manner that
is still compelling. The soloists are
similarly grand and warm, although still with
the full-throated operatic mannerisms that are
so much of the past in Messiah's of today.
Bass Jerome Hines is truly Wagnerian in
his arias, capturing the full range of drama,
NIcholai Gedda is less memorable, but still
potent, while Grace Hoffman and Elisabeth
Schwarzkopf are both rich and dramatic in
their readings. The recorded ambience is
very good for a 1965 recording, if muted by
the technology of the times - I first heard
the Klemperer on the Japan
EMI
Classics recording, (which is far
cheaper than the collector's prices being
asked in the States) and the power of the
chorus is magnificent on the louder passages.
A beautiful, impressive Messiah,
worthy of being in any collection.
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