RECORDINGS

LABEL: HÄNSSLER CLASSICS
CATALOG NUMBER: HAN 98198
UPC NUMBER: 040888819820
NUMBER OF DISCS: 2
RUNNING TIME: 131:29
YEAR RECORDED: 1997
CD RELEASE DATE: JUNE 22, 2004
CONDUCTOR: HELMUTH RILLING
ORCHESTRA: OREGON BACH FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA
CHOIR: OREGON BACH FESTIVAL CHOIR
SOPRANO: SIBYLLA RUBENS
CONTRALTO: INGEBORG DANZ
TENOR: JAMES TAYLOR
BARITONE: THOMAS QUASTHOFF


AUDIO SAMPLES HIGHLIGHTS OTHER RELEASES


NONE


DISC ONE

1. Sinfony - Grave - Allegro moderato     2:42
2. Accompagnato (tenor) - Comfort Ye, Comfort Ye My People    3:09
3. Air (tenor) - Every Valley Shall Be Exalted    3:09
4. Chorus - And The Glory Of The Lord    3:10
5. Accompagnato (bass) - Thus Saith The Lord Of Hosts    1:21
6. Air (alto) - But Who May Abide The Day Of His Coming    4:24
7. Chorus - And He Shall Purify The Sons of Levi    2:31
8. Recitative (alto) - Behold, A Virgin Shall Conceive    0:27
9. Air (alto) and Chorus    3:37
10. O Thou That Tellest Good Tidings To Zion    1:29
11. Accompagnato (bass) - For Behold, Darkness Shall Cover The Earth    2:02
12. Air (bass) - The People That Walked In Darkness    4:27
13. Chorus - For Unto Us A Child Is Born    3:52
14. Pifa - Pastoral Symphony    0:51
15. Accompagnato (soprano) - There Were Shepherds Abiding In The Field    1:23
16. Recitative (soprano) - And The Angel Said Unto Them / First Part: Accompagnato (soprano) - And Suddenly There Was Wi    1:41
17. Air (soprano) - Rejoice Greatly, O Daughter Of Zion    4:01
18. Recitative (alto) - Then Shall The Eyes Of The Blind Be Opened    0:33
19. Air (alto and soprano) - He Shall Feed His Flock    4:34
20. Chorus - His Yoke Is Easy    2:31
21. Chorus - Behold The Lamb Of God    2:17
22. Air (alto) he Was Despised And Rejected Of Men    9:50

DISC TWO

1. Chorus - Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs     1:59
2. Chorus - And With His Stripes We Are Healed    1:36
3. Chorus - All We Like Sheep Have Gone Astray    3:43
4. Accompagnato (tenor) - All They That See Him    0:42
5. Chorus - He Trusted In God    2:20
6. Accompagnato (tenor) - Thy Rebuke Hath Broken His Heart    2:05
7. Arioso (tenor) - Behold, And See    1:25
8. Accompagnato (tenor) - He Was Cut Off Out Of The Land Of The Living    0:33
9. Air (tenor) - But Thou Didst Not Leave His Soul In Hell    1:42
10. Chorus - Lift Up Your Heads    2:55
11. Recitative (tenor) - Unto Which Of The Angels Said He At Any Time    0:14
12. Chorus - Let All The Angels Of God Worship Him    1:22
13. Air (alto) - Thou Art Gone Up On High    2:55
14. Chorus - The Lord Gave The Word    0:58
15. Air (soprano) - How Beautiful Are The Feet Of Them    1:50
16. Chorus - Their Sound Is Gone Out Into All Lands    1:17
17. Air (bass) - Why Do The Nations So Furiously Rage Together    2:41
18. Chorus - Let Us Break Their Bonds Asunder    1:47
19. Recitative (tenor) - He That Dwelleth In Heaven    0:12
20. Air (tenor) - Thou Shalt Break Them With A Rod Of Iron    1:59
21. Chorus - Hallelujah    4:19
22. Air (soprano) - I Know That My Redeemer Liveth    4:45
23. Chorus - Since By Man Came Death    1:55
24. Recitative - secco (bass) - Behold, I Tell You A Mystery    0:39
25. Air (bass) - The Trumpet Shall Sound    8:42
26. Recitative - secco (alto) - Then Shall Be Brought To Pass    0:15
27. Duet (alto and tenor) - O Death, Where Is Thy Sting    0:54
28. Chorus - But Thanks Be To God    2:02
29. Air (soprano) - If God Is For Us    4:15
30. Chorus - Worthy Is The Lamb    3:33
31. Chorus - Amen    3:03


SITE RATING:  7/10
SITE REVIEW:  Helmuth Rilling's second recording of Messiah for Hänssler Classics is one of the more idiosyncratic Messiahs on the market, and an interesting listen, due to it's stentorian tempos and rigid direction.  Rilling is perhaps better known for his extensive recordings of Bach Cantatas, and here, I can only say that this is a very "Bach"-like approach to Handel's oratorio, with severe attention being given to the various themes, each being given weight and purpose.  The Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra & Chorus both perform admirably, giving exact attention to Rilling's tempos.  Unfortunately, like Sir David Willcocks Messiah on EMI, this Messiah suffers from the strict marching attitude that the director brings to the proceedings.  Instead of a joyful celebration, this recording feels more like a goose-stepping parade of arms, all proper conduct and stiff-lipped correctness.  All I could concentrate on while listening was the stiff marcattos and and rolled "r's".  Among the soloists, Sibylla Rubens had the most pleasing, lightest tone, with alto  Ingeborg Danz and baritone Thomas Quasthoff both swallowed and thick in their vocal qualities,  and tenor James Taylor (no, not THAT James Taylor), giving a light, inconsequential reading to his arias.  And since the soloists are also under the stern eye of Rilling's rigid direction, they are given little opportunity to bring an iota of warmth or emotion to their readings.  An admirable performance, with quick, exact performances by all, but more academically interesting to listen to than purely enjoyable.


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