| RECORDINGS |
|
| LABEL: |
SERAPHIC
FIRE |
| CATALOG
NUMBER: |
N/A |
| UPC
NUMBER: |
634479859236 |
| NUMBER OF DISCS: |
1 |
| RUNNING TIME: |
61:50 |
| DATE
RECORDED: |
DECEMBER
20, 2006 |
| CD
RELEASE DATE: |
AUGUST
12, 2008 |
| CONDUCTOR: |
PATRICK DUPRÉ QUIGLEY |
| ORCHESTRA: |
SERAPHIC
FIRE CHAMBER ORCHESTRA |
| CHOIR: |
SERAPHIC
FIRE |
| TREBLE: |
FRANCES
COLLINS |
| SOPRANO: |
CAROLINA
CASTELLS, TERESA WAKIM |
| COUNTERTENOR: |
REGGIE
MOBLEY |
| TENOR: |
VINCENT
DAVIES |
| BASS: |
JAMES
BASS, PAUL MAX TIPTON |
|
|
|
DISC ONE
1. Messiah, HW 56: Symphony
3:22
2. Messiah, HW 56: Comfort Ye
2:32
3. Messiah, HW 56: Ev'ry Valley
3:14
4. Messiah, HW 56: And the Glory of the
Lord
2:34
5. Messiah, HW 56: Behold, a Virgin Shall
Conceive 0:22
6. Messiah, HW 56: O Thou that Tellest
4:53
7. Messiah, HW 56: For Behold, Darkness
1:34
8. Messiah, HW 56: The People That Walked
in Darkness
3:18
9. Messiah, HW 56: For Unto Us a Child Is
Born
3:50
10. Messiah, HW 56: Pifa / There Were
Shepherds 1:07
11. Messiah, HW 56: And Lo, the Angel of
the Lord 0:17
12. Messiah, HW 56: And the Angel Said
Unto Them
0:31
13. Messiah, HW 56: And Suddenly There Was
With the Angel
0:18
14. Messiah, HW 56: Glory to God
1:50
15. Messiah, HW 56: Rejoice Greatly
4:27
16. Messiah, HW 56: His Yoke Is Easy
2:14
17. Messiah, HW 56: Surely He Hath Borne
Our Griefs 1:40
18. Messiah, HW 56: And With His Stripes
1:29
19. Messiah, HW 56: All We, Like Sheep
3:52
20. Messiah, HW 56: The Lord Gave the Word
0:55
21. Messiah, HW 56: Hallelujah
3:24
22. Messiah, HW 56: I Know That My
Redeemer Liveth 5:10
23. Messiah, HW 56: Since By Man Came
Death 1:47
24. Messiah, HW 56: Worthy Is the Lamb
3:04
25. Messiah, HW 56: Amen
3:52
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SITE RATING: 7/10
SITE
REVIEW: Seraphic Fire,
a Miami-based chamber chorus & orchestra
under the direction of Patrick Dupré Quigley,
regularly performs a "highlights" version of Messiah
each Christmas-time, claiming on their website
that the 75+ minute concert is an annual
sellout. Clocking in at just over sixty
minutes, this live concert recording captures
the sixteen-voice choir admirably, with
beautiful ambiance and blend, electrifying
soloists (for the most part) and razor-sharp
diction and dynamic changes. Drawing the
soloists from their own forces, tenor Vincent
Davies shines on "Comfort Ye" with a thrilling
tone and control - his performance hampered
only by the loud persistent coughing present
in the audience, which unfortunately
punctuates the entire recording; also his
tendency to vocal embellishments arguably
detract, rather than enhance the reading.
Countertenor Reggie Mobley fares
somewhat worse with distinct pitch issues and
odd, trembling melismas during a painful "O,
thou, that tellest". Bass James Bass is
impressive during "For behold, darkness"
while Paul Max Tipton takes over for an
equally spacious "The People That Walked In
Darkness". The choir sings with
admirable unity and cleanness, which is one of
the blessings of a small chorus - it's
apparent that these are first-class vocalists,
who nevertheless manage to sing together with
remarkable oneness. Quigley's tempos are
distinctly modern, with quicker, brighter
tempos evident throughout, befitting his
smaller, lighter forces. The Seraphic
Fire Chamber Orchestra exhibits verve and
passion, but is recorded with less immediacy
than I would prefer. Although this is a
generally impressive performance, the
recording is severely hampered by audience
noise, and makes me wish that they had
recorded this during a closed session.
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