RECORDINGS

LABEL: CAPITOL CUSTOM
CATALOG NUMBER: 22051
UPC NUMBER: N/A
NUMBER OF DISCS: 2
RUNNING TIME: UNKNOWN
YEAR RECORDED: 1976
RELEASE DATE: 1977
CONDUCTOR: RONALD KUHN
ORCHESTRA: UNIVERSITY CONGRATIONAL CHURCH CHANCEL ORCHESTRA
CHOIR: UNIVERSITY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH CHANCEL CHOIR
SOPRANO: MARNI NIXON
MEZZO-SOPRANO: LINDA LANE SMITH
TENOR: JERRY LANDEEN
BASS: NEIL WILSON


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AUDIO SAMPLES HIGHLIGHTS OTHER RELEASES

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DISC ONE

SIDE ONE
Part the First

Sinfonia
Recitative (Tenor) - Comfort ye, my people
Air (Tenor) - Every valley
Chorus - And the glory of the Lord
Chorus - And He shall purify
Air (Alto) and Chorus - O thou that tellest
Chorus - For unto us a child is born

SIDE TWO
Pifa (Pastoral Symphony)
Air (Soprano) Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Air (Alto) He shall feed His flock
Air (Soprano) Come unto Him
Chorus - His yoke is easy, and His burthen is light

Part the Second
Chorus -  Behold the Lamb of God
DISC TWO

SIDE THREE
Chorus - Surely He hath borne our griefs
Chorus - He trusted in God
Recitative (Tenor) - Ty rebuke hath broken His heart
Air (Tenor) - Behold, and see if there be any sorrow
Air (Soprano) - How beautiful are the feet
Air (Bass) - Why do the nations
Chorus - Hallelujah!

SIDE FOUR
Part the Third

Air (Soprano) - I know that my Redeemer liveth
Chorus - Since by man came death
Recitative (Bass) - Behold I tell you a mystery
Air (Bass) - The trumpet shall sound
Chorus - Worthy is the Lamb/Amen

SITE RATING:  6/10
SITE REVIEW:  The big selling point for this admittedly obscure 1976 Messiah LP is the presence of legendary Hollywood voice actress/singer Marni Nixon (who was the singing voice behind such film roles as Anna in The King and I, Eliza in My Fair Lady,  and Maria in West Side Story) as well as a long career in stage, screen and opera.  I usually don't hold up much hope for church recordings, given the limited resources and talent pool they draw upon, but this recording is an exception - the playing and singing are very fine - with Ms. Nixon giving a brauvara performance in her  arias, with crystal clear pitch and stunning articulation, lending not only a sheen of fine professionalism to her part, but deeply-felt feeling as well.  A major fault, however, is her seeming distance in the recorded sound - she sounds several steps away from the microphone, giving most of her arias a distinct feeling of separation.  The Orchestra, under the sensitive direction of Ronald  Kuhn, plays with expert pitch and unity.  The University Congregational Church Chancel Choir sings better-than-average unity and diction, but still falls into traps of disunity and forced passages (most noticeably on the strident "He trusted in God") - still a fine church choir by all accounts. Mezzo-soprano Linda Lane Smith is every bit the equal of Marni Nixon, lending only an air of deeper, richer tone to her readings.  Tenor Jerry Landeen is a bit fruity in his tessitura, scooping a bit in his readings, but a genial presence, while bass Neil Wilson's vibrant vocal color and commanding stance is a welcome change of pace.  Kuhn's tempos are generally medium-to-slow, but allow the tenderer feelings of this Messiah to breathe.  An interesting item for collectors to seek out.

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