| RECORDINGS |
|
| LABEL: |
HYPERION |
| CATALOG
NUMBER: |
CDA67800 |
| UPC
NUMBER: |
034571178004 |
| NUMBER OF DISCS: |
2 |
| RUNNING TIME: |
133:30 |
| YEAR
RECORDED: |
DECEMBER,
2008 |
| CD
RELEASE DATE: |
NOVEMBER
10, 2009 |
| CONDUCTOR: |
STEPHEN
LAYTON |
| ORCHESTRA: |
BRITTEN
SINFONIA |
| CHOIR: |
POLYPHONY |
| SOPRANO: |
JULIA
DOYLE |
| COUNTERTENOR: |
IESTYN
DAVIES |
| TENOR: |
ALLAN
CLAYTON |
| BASS: |
ANDREW
FOSTER-WILLIAMS |
|
|
|
DISC ONE
1. Part 1 No 01: Symphony
[3'23]
2. Part 1 No 02. Recitative: Comfort ye,
my people (tenor) [2'44]
Allan Clayton (tenor)
3. Part 1 No 03. Aria: Every valley
shall be exalted (tenor) [3'06]
Allan Clayton (tenor)
4. Part 1 No 04. Chorus: And the glory
of the Lord shall be revealed
[2'49]
5. Part 1 No 05. Recitative: Thus saith
the Lord of hosts (bass) [1'20]
Andrew Foster-Williams (bass)
6. Part 1 No 06. Aria: But who may abide
the day of his coming? (alto)
[4'12]
Iestyn Davies (countertenor)
7. Part 1 No 07. Chorus: And he shall
purify the sons of Levi [2'35]
8. Part 1 No 08. Recitative: Behold, a
virgin shall conceive, and bear a son
(alto) [0'23]
Iestyn Davies (countertenor)
9. Part 1 No 09. Aria with chorus: O
thou that tellest good tidings to Zion
(alto) [5'01]
Iestyn Davies (countertenor)
10. Part 1 No 10. Recitative: For
behold, darkness shall cover the earth
(bass) [2'03]
Andrew Foster-Williams (bass)
11. Part 1 No 11. Aria: The people that
walked in darkness have seen a great
light (bass) [3'58]
Andrew Foster-Williams (bass)
12. Part 1 No 12. Chorus: For unto us a
child is born [3'47]
13. Part 1 No 13: Pifa 'Pastoral
Symphony' [0'54]
14. Part 1 No 14. Recitative: There were
shepherds, abiding in the field
(soprano) [0'26]
Julia Doyle (soprano)
15. Part 1 No 15. Recitative: And the
angel said unto them, fear not
(soprano) [0'25]
Julia Doyle (soprano)
16. Part 1 No 16. Recitative: And
suddenly there was with the angel a
multitude (soprano) [0'16]
Julia Doyle (soprano)
17. Part 1 No 17. Chorus: Glory to God
in the highest [1'52]
18. Part 1 No 18. Aria: Rejoice greatly,
O daughter of Zion (soprano)
[4'07]
Julia Doyle (soprano)
19. Part 1 No 19. Recitative: Then shall
the eyes of the blind be opened
(alto) [0'23]
Iestyn Davies (countertenor)
20. Part 1 No 20. Aria: He shall feed
his flock like a shepherd
(alto/soprano) [4'55]
Iestyn Davies (countertenor), Julia
Doyle (soprano)
21. Part 1 No 21. Chorus: His yoke is
easy and his burthen is light
[2'15]
22. Part 2 No 01. Chorus: Behold the
Lamb of God [2'42]
23. Part 2 No 02. Aria: He was despised
and rejected of men (alto) [10'36]
Iestyn Davies (countertenor)
|
DISC TWO
1.
Part
2 No 03. Chorus: Surely he hath borne
our griefs [1'51]
2. Part 2 No 04. Chorus: And with his
stripes we are healed [1'52]
3. Part 2 No 05. Chorus: All we like
sheep have gone astray [4'02]
4. Part 2 No 06. Recitative: All they
that see him laugh him to scorn
(tenor) [0'44]
Allan Clayton (tenor)
5. Part 2 No 07. Chorus: He trusted in
God that he would deliver him
[2'14]
6. Part 2 No 08. Recitative: Thy rebuke
hath broken his heart (tenor)
[1'53]
Allan Clayton (tenor)
7. Part 2 No 09. Aria: Behold and see if
there be any sorrow like unto his sorrow
(tenor) [1'19]
Allan Clayton (tenor)
8. Part 2 No 10. Recitative: He was cut
off out of the land of the living
(tenor) [0'13]
Allan Clayton (tenor)
9. Part 2 No 11. Aria: But thou didst
not leave his soul in hell
(soprano/tenor) [2'14]
Julia Doyle (soprano)
10. Part 2 No 12. Chorus: Lift up your
heads, O ye gates [3'03]
11. Part 2 No 13. Recitative: Unto which
of the angels said he at any time?
(tenor) [0'13]
Allan Clayton (tenor)
12. Part 2 No 14. Chorus: Let all the
angels of God worship him [1'26]
13. Part 2 No 15. Aria: Thou art gone up
on high (alto) [3'02]
Iestyn Davies (countertenor)
14. Part 2 No 16. Chorus: The Lord gave
the word [0'57]
15. Part 2 No 17. Aria: How beautiful
are the feet of them that preach
(soprano) [2'09]
Julia Doyle (soprano)
16. Part 2 No 18. Chorus: Their sound is
gone out into all lands [1'14]
17. Part 2 No 19. Aria: Why do the
nations so furiously rage together?
(bass) [2'32]
Andrew Foster-Williams (bass)
18. Part 2 No 20. Chorus: Let us break
their bonds asunder [1'47]
19. Part 2 No 21. Recitative: He that
dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to
scorn (tenor) [0'10]
Allan Clayton (tenor)
20. Part 2 No 22. Aria: Thou shalt break
them with a rod of iron (tenor)
[1'58]
Allan Clayton (tenor)
21. Part 2 No 23. Chorus: Hallelujah,
for the Lord God omnipotent
reigneth [3'43]
22. Part 3 No 01. Aria: I know that my
Redeemer liveth (soprano) [6'00]
Julia Doyle (soprano)
23. Part 3 No 02. Chorus: Since by man
came death [2'20]
24. Part 3 No 03. Recitative: Behold, I
tell you a mystery (bass) [0'29]
Andrew Foster-Williams (bass)
25. Part 3 No 04. Aria: The trumpet
shall sound (bass) [5'49]
Andrew Foster-Williams (bass)
26. Part 3 No 05. Recitative: Then shall
be brought to pass (alto) [0'15]
Iestyn Davies (countertenor)
27. Part 3 No 06. Aria: O Death, where
is thy sting? (alto/tenor) [1'05]
Iestyn Davies (countertenor), Allan
Clayton (tenor)
28. Part 3 No 07. Chorus: But thanks be
to God who giveth us the victory
[2'15]
29. Part 3 No 08. Aria: If God be for
us, who can be against us?
(soprano) [4'54]
Julia Doyle (soprano)
30. Part 3 No 09. Chorus: Worthy is the
Lamb that was slain [3'20]
31. Part 3 No 10. Chorus:
Amen [4'15]
|
|
SITE RATING: 10/10
SITE
REVIEW: Period performance enthusiasts will
find much to love about this recording by
Stephen Layton, with bravura performances
and emotional investment from all involved.
I found myself listening anew to Messiah
as fresh, electrifying tempos and emphasis
were displayed on every track. I
admit, although I enjoy most performances of
Messiah,
regardless of performing style, I find
myself most engaged by the new period
instrumentation and quicker tempos, and
Hyperion's stunning recording brings to life
all of the passion, drama, and action (yes,
action) of Messiah. What sets
this set apart from most others is the
heightened sense of drama that the
performers bring the table - Handel
originally set his oratorio as a theatrical
piece, yet few performers have invested it
with theatrical style, but Stephen Layton
shatters all conventions with this
recording. "Thou Shalt Break Them" is
delivered with a biting sting by tenor Allyn
Clayton, while the choruses are sung with
joy and passion by Polyphony.
I have never heard such emotion
brought to Messiah before, and the
credit must be equally shared by all -
Iestyn Davies is a revelation, singing with
perfect control and beauty, Julia Doye is a
cool, serene presence, and Andrew
Foster-Williams sings with emotional depth,
and the playing, by Britten
Sinfonia is striking - lovely long
lines in places, and sharp accents in
others. This recording has jumped to
the top of my Messiah playlist, and I
doubt that it will be replaced for many
years to come.
|
|
