RECORDINGS

LABEL: ARCHIV PRODUKTION
CATALOG NUMBER: 427 173-2
UPC NUMBER: 028942717329
NUMBER OF DISCS: 2
RUNNING TIME: 77:00, 69:12
YEAR RECORDED: 1974
CD RELEASE DATE: APRIL 27, 1990
CONDUCTOR: SIR CHARLES MACKERRAS
ORCHESTRA: SYMPHONIEORCHESTER DES ÖSTERREICHISCHEN RUNDFUNKS
CHOIR: CHOR DES ÖSTERREICHISCHEN RUNDFUNKS
SOPRANO: EDITH MATHIS
ALTO: BIRGIT FINNILÄ
TENOR: PETER SCHREIER
BASS: THEO ADAM


AUDIO SAMPLES HIGHLIGHTS OTHER RELEASES


ARCHIV
                              2723019ARCHIV 3 LP BOX 2723019

DISC ONE

1. Act I, Sinfonia In E Minor
2. Act I, "Comfort Ye My People", Recitative For Tenor
3. Act I, "Ev'ry Valley Shall Be Exalted", Air For Tenor
4. Act I, "And The Glory Of The Lord", Chorus
5. Act I, "Thus Saith The Lord Of Hosts", Recitative For Bass
6. Act I, "But Who May Abide The Day Of His Coming", Air For Bass
7. Act I, "And He Shall Purify The Sons Of Levi", Chorus
8. Act I, "Behold, A Virgin Shall Conceive", Recitative For Alto
9. Act I, "O Thou That Tellest Good Tiding To Zion", Air For Alto
10. Act I, "For Behold, Darkness Shall Cover The Earth", Recitative For Bass
11. Act I, "The People That Walked In Darkness", Air For Bass
12. Act I, "For Unto Us A Child Is Born", Chorus
13. Act I, Pifa In C Major
14. Act I, "There Were Shepherds Abiding In The Field", Recitative For Soprano
15. Act I, "And Lo, The Angel Of The Lord Came Upon Them", Recitative For Soprano
16. Act I, "But Lo, The Angel Of The Lord Came Upon Them", Arioso For Soprano
17. Act I, "And The Angel Said Unto Them", Recitative For Soprano
18. Act I, "And Suddenly There Was With The Angel A Multitude", Recitative For Sopra
19. Act I, "Glory To God In The Highest", Chorus
20. Act I, "Rejoice Greatly", Air For Soprano
21. Act I, "Then Shall The Eyes Of The Blind Be Open'd", Recitative For Soprano
22. Act I, "He Shall Feed His Flock Like A Shepherd", Air For Soprano

DISC TWO

23. Act I, "His Yoke Is Easy, His Burden Is Light", Chorus
24. Act Ii, "Behold The Lamb Of God", Chorus
25. Act Ii, "He Was Dispised And Rejected", Air For Alto
26. Act Ii, "Surely, He Hath Borne Our Griefs And Carried Our Sorrows", Chorus
27. Act Ii, "And With His Stripes We Are Healed", Chorus
28. Act Ii, "All We Like Sheep", Chorus
29. Act Ii, "All They That See Him, Laugh Him To Scorn", Recitative For Tenor
30. Act Ii, "He Trusted In God That He Would Deliver Him", Chorus
31. Act Ii, "Thy Rebuke Hat Broken His Heart", Recitative For Tenor
32. Act Ii, "Behold, And See If There Be Any Sorrow", Arioso For Tenor
33. Act Ii, "He Was Cut Off Out Of The Land Of The Living", Recitative For Tenor
34. Act Ii, "But Thou Didst Not Leave His Soul In Hell", Air For Tenor
35. Act Ii, "Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates", Chorus
36. Act Ii, "Unto Which Of The Angels Said He At Any Time", Recitative For Tenor
37. Act Ii, "Let All The Angels Of God Worship Him", Chorus
38. Act Ii, "Thou Art Gone Up On High", Air For Bass/Alto
39. Act Ii, "Great Was The Company Of The Preachers", Chorus
40. Act Ii, "How Beautiful Are The Feet Of Them", Air For Soprano
41. Act Ii, "Their Sound Is Gone Out Into All The Lands", Arioso For Tenor
42. Act Ii, "Their Sound Is Gone Out Into All The Lands", Chorus
43. Act Ii, "Why Do The Nations So Furiously Rage Together", Air For Bass
44. Act Ii, "The Kings Of The Earth Rise Up", Air For Bass
45. Act Ii, "Let Us Break Their Bonds Asunder", Chorus
46. Act Ii, "He That Dwelleth In Heaven", Recitative For Tenor
47. Act Ii, "Thou Shalt Break Them With A Rod Of Iron", Air For Tenor
48. Act Ii, "Thou Shalt Break Them With A Rod Of Iron", Recitative For Tenor
49. Act Ii, "Hallelujah", Chorus
50. Act Iii, "I Know That My Redeemer Liveth", Air For Soprano
51. Act Iii, "Since By Man Came Death", Chorus
52. Act Iii, "Behold, I Tell You A Mystery", Recitative For Bass
53. Act Iii, "The Trumpet Shall Sound", Air For Bass
54. Act Iii, "Then Shall Be Brought To Pass The Saying", Recitative For Alto
55. Act Iii, "O Death, Where Is Thy Sting?", Duet For Alto & Tenor
56. Act Iii, "But Thanks To Be To God", Chorus
57. Act Iii, "Worthy Is The Lamb Was Slain", Chorus
58. Act Iii, "Amen", Chorus
59. "Thus Saith The Lord Of Hosts", Supplemental Recitative For Bass


SITE RATING:  10/10
SITE REVIEW:  Mackerras's 1974 recording of the Mozart arrangement of Messiah may be the definitive article for this version; at least, definitive in that it feels the most German - there are strong Teutonic overtones to this performance, which needs to be heard to be appreciated.  To place this recording next to, say, Michel Corboz's Messiah is to hear an amazing contrast in styles: Corboz's Messiah dances, Mackerras's thunders; Corboz's recording glides, Mackerras's marches; and yet, they both work in their way.  Many, I think, prefer the more Germanic flavor of Mackerras's performance, and it's certainly a powerful performance - the soloists sound like proficient Wagnerians, with bass Theo Adam undeniably powerful, Peter Schreier a strong and commanding tenor; alto Birgit Finnilä richly dramatic, and soprano Edith Mathis bring a tragic pathos to her arias.  The orchestra and choir are fully up to presenting this Messiah as an apocalyptic prophecy, delivering powerful instrumental and vocal colors to their sound, and bringing dynamic unity to the entire performance.  Mackerras's tempi seem just right for this interpretation as well, with measured deliberation in every line that works beautifully.  Granted, this recording will not appeal to baroque enthusiasts, or to those who wish simply to hear an English-language Messiah; but among all the recordings available, either in German or English, this recording is a passionate, vivid alternative, and ranks as one of the very best.


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