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RECORDINGS |
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| 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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OUT-OF-PRINT.
CHECK
FOR
AVAILABILITY
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| AUDIO SAMPLES |
HIGHLIGHTS |
OTHER RELEASES |
NONE |
NONE |
NONE |
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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
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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
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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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