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SITE RATING:  3/10 SITE REVIEW:  INgrooves, the label that put out this "Beginner's Guide" to Messiah (as well as numerous other discs) is a music licensing company which records royalty-free classical music works, and then sells them to companies for advertising purposes.  Dr. Keith J. Salmon, who conducts this "Symphony Orchestra" (he also runs the Royalty Free Classical Music site), proudly advertises that "real people" are playing and singing on his works (always a plus), and that for a measly three hundred dollars, you can purchase the COMPLETE Messiah to shill whatever you want to sell.  Ain't commercialism grand?  This highlights disc is available for much less however, but considering the cynical methods behind it's creation, I wasn't expecting much, and my expectations were met on every level.  Obviously the product of hired guns, this recording boasts uncomfortable soloists who bluster and preen their way through the arias, indifferent playing by the INgrooves Symphony Orchestra, and competent, but passionless singing by the faceless British choir.  Dr. Salmon's conducting is rote, notable only for it's squareness and workmanship-like results.  But at least you too can now use "I Know That My Redeemer Liveth" to sell foot powder.

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