SITE RATING: 3/10
SITE REVIEW:
This 2007 Messiah
performed by the Los Angeles Chamber Choir and Musica Angelica, and
conducted by Chung Uk Lee, is another "regional" recording, and, in its
sphere, its perfectly acceptable, its qualities greatly lacking
however, when stacked against international releases. I wouldn't
rush out and purchase it - it has several issues, both with recorded
sound, and qualities of the performers. Let me start with the
direction, by Chung Uk Lee, which I found fairly square and
unimaginative - with everything taken at a tempo that just seems a bit
slower than necessary. The soloists are what really harm this
recording - from the dry, chesty bass Hong Suk Chae, to the off-key
singing of the boy soloists. Soprano Karen Young is bright and
chipper, with a nice tone and controlled melismas. Countertenor
Matt Alber is stretched thin on his arias, lacking tonal brilliance;
tenor Daniel Plaster is simply not proficient on his melismas, making a
very strained, difficult effort. The Los Angeles Chamber Choir
sings well for a city choir, but has no special direction or emphasis
given to them by their director, and come off as bland and faceless,
while Musica Angelica is similarly flat, performance-wise. The
recorded sound, taken from a live concert is also lacking in
brilliance; I suspect that this recording is aimed at subscribers of
the Choir and Orchestra, and it's a bit of a puzzle why it's being
marketed nationally - it's merits don't recommend it that highly.
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